Betrayed by tracks in snow, burglar sent to jail

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A McCook burglar who stole several totes containing radio controlled cars from a West G Street residence, and was later implicated after investigators followed his tracks in the snow, was sentenced to jail time in Red Willow County District Court. The burglar, 24-year-old Johnny Paul Lucero of 910 East E Street, was sentenced to 180 days in jail and given credit for 63 days already served.

Lucero accepted a plea agreement in April, offered by Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood, that reduced his initial Class III felony burglary charge to a Class IV felony of theft by unlawful taking and amended a drug paraphernalia infraction to a more severe Class III misdemeanor of criminal trespass.

Lucero was sentenced to 30 days in jail on the criminal trespass charge but that was ordered to be served at the same time as his 180 day sentence.

Last week in Red Willow County District Court:

* 33-year-old Travis L. Hanes of 409 E. Fourth Street pleaded not guilty to felony possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. A status hearing was scheduled for Aug. 6, 2012, in his case.

* A plea agreement was reached with 39-year-old Ronda L. Marsh of 902 East E Street that admitted guilt to a Class IV felony charge of second degree forgery. Marsh was charged in connection with a $1,400 check she wrote on the account of Collier Transportation Inc. to the First National Bank of Omaha.

The plea agreement reduced Marsh's original forgery charge from a Class III felony to the Class IV felony.

Sentencing was scheduled for Marsh at 1:30 p.m. on July 2, 2012, in Red Willow County Court.

* A McCook woman pleaded guilty to one Class III felony charge of distribution of a controlled substance, marijuana. Sentencing for the woman, 42-year-old Sheila K. Sain of 13 South Street, was scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on July 2, 2012, in Red Willow County District Court.