Code effort results in second conviction

McCOOK, Nebraska -- The second man arrested during a CODE task force raid of a McCook residence in February was sentenced to 24 months probation, Monday, in Red Willow County District Court. The offender, 33-year-old Travis L. Hanes of 409 E. Fourth Street, was convicted on a Class IV felony charge of possession of methamphetamine.

Hanes was at the West Fourth Street home of 44-year-old Timothy J. Griffith when the task force carried out a raid and subsequently arrested both men. The task force included officers from the McCook Police Department, the Red Willow County Sheriff's office, the Nebraska State Patrol and an agent from Homeland Security.

Hanes was originally charged with an infraction for possession of drug paraphernalia, in addition to the felony possession of methamphetamine charge, stemming from a bag recovered from his vehicle. He accepted a plea agreement in August, offered by Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood, that dismissed the paraphernalia infraction and agreed to a probation recommendation at sentencing.

Griffith was also sentenced to probation after accepting a plea agreement in his case that admitted guilt to three Class III felony offenses of distribution of marijuana.

CODE, Central Nebraska Cooperative for Drug Enforcement, is the largest drug task force in Nebraska and deals with issues of drugs, violent crimes and gang activity in South Central Nebraska.