Felon back to prison for incident at store

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A local man who admitted to being a felon in possession of a deadly weapon received prison time Monday in Red Willow County District Court. The offender, 29-year-old Kiel J. Coady, was sentenced to 18 to 36 months in state prison after accepting a plea agreement in September admitting guilt to the Class III felony offense. Coady was also sentenced to a consecutive sentence of 90 days on a misdemeanor resisting arrest offense, in addition to a concurrent sentence of 90 days on a misdemeanor shoplifting offense.

Coady received credit for having already served 82 days in jail.

The charges against Coady stem from an altercation he instigated with several law enforcement officers at the west Casey's convenience store in August. Coady was Tazed during the ordeal and several arresting officers received medical treatment at the scene.

The law enforcement officers were responding to a report Coady had a large bayonet-style knife strapped to his hip and was refusing to pay for items at the convenience store. Coady subsequently threatened responding officers with the knife and continued to resist the arrest after being Tazed, leading up to a tense moment during which Coady attempted to grab one of the officers' handgun.

According to court documents, the items Coady shoplifted from the convenience store were estimated to be valued at a little more than $10.

Other activity in Red Willow County District Court, Nov. 4, 2013:

* A Wilsonville, Nebraska, man who stole a Bristol Windows company vehicle from the Chief Motel in July, and was arrested five days later in Holdrege after being reported for careless driving, was sentenced to probation. The offender, 19-year-old Jesse J. Maret, was sentenced to 30 months probation after admitting guilt to a Class IV felony offense of theft by unlawful taking.

Maret told investigators he stole the vehicle, a 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, because he needed a ride back to Holdrege. Maret also said he was accompanied by his aunt, Nikki Maret, during the crime.

Maret indicated damage to the stolen vehicle's passenger side door and front license plate occurred while the vehicle was being driven by Nikki Maret the day prior to his arrest.

* A McCook man pleaded not guilty to a Class II felony offense of first degree sexual assault. The man, 32-year-old Greg Stevens of 412 W. Third Street, is accused of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman who previously shared a room with him. A motions hearing was subsequently scheduled in the case at 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 4, 2013.

Meth charge results in prison time

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A 34-year-old McCook man received prison time Monday after being convicted of felony meth possession, stemming from his involvement in the theft of a pickup from a rural Red Willow County residence in July.

The offender, Jason M. Stephens, was sentenced to 20-60 months in state prison after admitting guilt to felony possession of methamphetamine, as well as an additional sentence of 20-60 months for violating his probation in an unrelated case. The sentences were ordered by Red Willow County District Court Judge David Urbom to be served consecutively, meaning Stephens received a minimum sentence of just under three and a half years, with a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Considering Nebraska "good time" provisions, and the credit for 53 days already served Stephens was given at sentencing, he could be out of prison in a little more then a year and a half.

Stephens was originally arrested along with 22-year-old Jessica Cole of Palisade, Nebraska, 27-year-old Vincent Bonacci of McCook and 31-year-old James Bonacci III, after a drug sniffing dog indicated the presence of narcotics in their vehicle. The vehicle they were driving had been pulled over near Norris Park because a trailer they were pulling had no license plates on it, in addition to being loaded with what was suspected and later confirmed to be a stolen pickup.

Stephens accepted a plea agreement in August admitting guilt to a Class IV felony offense for possession of methamphetamine and dismissing four additional offenses, including a Class IV felony charge for theft by receiving stolen property; two Class III felony offenses of possession of a deadly weapon by a convicted felon; and an infraction for possession of drug paraphernalia.

The probation violation Stephens was sentenced on stemmed from his January 2013 conviction on a similar Class IV felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. According to court documents, Stephens violated the 30 month probation sentence he received in that case by testing positive for methamphetamine and amphetamines in February, April and May, as well as failing to follow other guidelines.

Jessica Cole was convicted in October on a Class IV felony offense of possession of methamphetamine, as well as an additional Class I misdemeanor offense for theft by receiving stolen property. She was sentenced to 36 months probation by Judge Urbom.

Vincent Bonacci accepted a plea agreement that pleaded no contest to a lone charge of Class IV felony possession of methamphetamine. He is scheduled for sentencing at 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 2, 2013.

James W. Bonacci III accepted a plea agreement admitting guilt to a Class IV felony offense of possession of a controlled substance. He is scheduled for sentencing at 9 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2013.

Not guilty plea entered in domestic assault case

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook man pleaded not guilty to multiple domestic assault and drug related felony offenses Monday in Red Willow County District Court. The accused, 38-year-old Christian R. Schaffert of 1303 W. Second Street, is facing four felony offenses and an fraction for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Schaffert has been charged with a Class IIIA felony offense of second degree domestic assault; a Class II felony offense of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony; a Class IV felony offense for possession of methamphetamine; a Class IV felony for possession of a destructive device; and the infraction for possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to court documents, Schaffert is accused of hitting his girlfriend in the face multiple times until she lost consciousness, in addition to stabbing her with a knife.

A motions hearing was subsequently scheduled for Dec. 2, 2013, at 11:15 a.m. in Red Willow County District Court.