Plea agreement reached in vehicle theft, burglary

McCOOK, Neb. -- A plea agreement was reached last week in Red Willow County District Court with a Culbertson man facing felony burglary and theft charges.

The offender, 38-year-old Luke Warburton, will subsequently face sentencing on a Class IV felony for theft by unlawful taking and a Class I misdemeanor for attempted possession of methamphetamine. He was scheduled for sentencing at 1 p.m. on July 6, 2015.

Warburton originally was facing a pair of Class IV felony offenses, alleging theft and possession of methamphetamine, in addition to a Class 3 felony burglary charge and an infraction for possession of drug paraphernalia.

The theft charge stemmed from a 1998 Chevy pickup stolen on April 1, 2015, from the home of Darren and Tyler Esch in Indianola, Nebraska.

According to the probable cause affidavit, the vehicle was reported stolen and located at the nearby former Republic Valley High School building a short while later.

Red Willow County Sheriff's Deputies encountered Warburton during a search of the building and subsequently arrested him on felony burglary and theft charges. Warburton was in possession of a used syringe, which field tested positive for methamphetamine, prompting the felony charge for possession of a controlled substance.

Other activity in Red Willow County District Court, May 4, 2015:

* A pair of felony criminal cases filed against two McCook men accused of stealing cattle were scheduled for hearings at a later date. The men, 41-year-old Donald R Slone Jr. of 804 E. Third Street and 21-year-old Brandon M. Deater of 518 W. First Street Apt. 11, are each facing a Class IC felony for allegedly using a deadly weapon to commit a felony and a Class 3 felony alleging theft by unlawful taking.

The case against Deater was scheduled for a hearing at 8:45 a.m. on June 1, 2015, in Red Willow County District Court. The case against Slone was scheduled for a hearing at 9 a.m. on Aug. 3, 2015.

The men are accused of stealing a Hereford, angus heifer, from Dan Larington on Aug. 3, 2014, according to court documents.

Deater pleaded not guilty to the charges in October of 2014 and Slone pleaded not guilty in November of 2014.

* 21-year-old Matthew J. Clinton admitted to probation violations and was subsequently scheduled for a sentencing hearing at 1:45 p.m. on June 1, 2015, in Red Willow County District Court. According to court documents, the probation violations stem from Clinton's arrest by the North Platte Police Department in September of 2013, on charges of burglary and theft, in addition to failing to pay court ordered restitution and court fees stemming from a Red Willow County conviction.

Clinton originally was sentenced to 48 months probation in May of 2013 after accepting a plea agreement admitting guilt to three felonies and three misdemeanor offenses. The charges stemmed from 2012 burglaries at Taste of Texas BBQ and Sports night club, attempted burglaries at Tropical Tanners and Mac's Drive Inn, and damage done to vending/gaming machines at Arrow Car Wash and Sports.

Clinton was already on probation at the time of the burglaries, four months into a six month probation sentence, stemming from a 2012 disturbing the peace conviction.

* 21-year-old Alexis L. Kruger of Holbrook, Nebraska, admitted to probation violations and was scheduled for sentencing at 1 p.m. on June 1, 2015. According to court documents, the violations stem from Kruger's arrest on drug charges in Hitchcock County, charges of leaving the scene and reckless driving in Furnas County and a citation for unauthorized use of a financial transaction device in Furnas County, in addition to failing to report to her probation officer.

Kruger originally was sentenced to 24 months probation in 2013 after being convicted in Red Willow County on a Class I misdemeanor offense for attempted possession of a controlled substance.

* A trio of felony criminal cases filed against 32-year-old Brandon S. Holdcroft were scheduled for a hearing at 8:45 a.m. on June 1, 2015.

Holdcroft pleaded not guilty in September to a pair of Class IV felonies, one alleging possession of methamphetamine and the other alleging possession of burglary tools. In October he pleaded not guilty to a Class 3 felony alleging he burglarized the U.S. Highway 83 car wash in June of 2014.

In a third criminal case, Holdcroft is facing two Class IV felonies alleging possession of methamphetamine and possession of burglary tools; a Class I misdemeanor alleging he operated a motor vehicle to avoid arrest; and infractions for possession of drug paraphernalia, not having insurance and using fictitious license plates.

* A plea agreement was reached with 32-year-old Tyler C. Graham of 38503 Road 714 admitting guilt to a Class IV felony offense for attempted possession of a deadly weapon by a convicted felon. Graham was subsequently scheduled for sentencing at 2:45 p.m. on July 6, 2015.

Graham was originally facing a Class 3 felony alleging possession of a deadly weapon by a convicted felon. According to the arresting officer's report, he was arrested and subsequently charged while hunting geese north of his residence and in possession of a 12 gauge shotgun.

* 23-year-old Chance D. Evans of 307 E. Fifth Street Apt. 4 was arraigned on a felony charge alleging third offense drink driving with a blood alcohol content in excess of .15. Evans subsequently was scheduled for a second arraignment at 8:45 a.m. on June 1, 2015