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Repeat drunk driver sent to prison
McCOOK, Neb. -- A Trenton man was sentenced to up to three years in state prison last week in Red Willow County District Court stemming from his arrest on multiple charges, including his fourth drunk driving offense.
The offender, 34-year-old Jeremy D. Nickerson, accepted a plea agreement in November admitting guilt to a Class 3A felony offense for third offense drunk driving and a Class 4 felony offense for operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest. During a sentencing hearing on Jan. 4, 2016, he was ordered to serve 18 to 36 months in state prison on the drunk driving offense and 12 to 36 months for attempting to avoid arrest, with the sentences to be served at the same time.
Nickerson's driver's license was also revoked for 15 years and he was given credit for 41 days in jail already served.
The plea agreement reduced the drunk driving charge from a Class 3 felony alleging it was Nickerson's fourth DUI offense, to a Class 3A for third offense, in addition to admitting guilt to a Class 4 felony for operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest. The plea also dismissed a felony offense alleging Nickerson was driving on a driver's license already revoked for drunk driving and additional offenses alleging he refused to submit to a preliminary test, refused to submit to a chemical test and possessed an open alcohol container.
Nickerson was arrested following a Nebraska State Patrol traffic stop on U.S. Highway 6 at just before 2 a.m. on March 21, 2015. According to court documents, his vehicle was traveling 95 miles per hour in a 65 mile zone and he led the arresting officer on a three mile pursuit before pulling over.
Nickerson was ordered to exit his vehicle at gunpoint and promptly stumbled and caught his balance on the bed of his pickup while doing so. A handgun was found on the center console and an open beer can was discovered in a cup holder of the vehicle, according to the arrest report.
Nickerson was previously convicted of drunk driving in Lincoln County in 2005 and again in 2008. In 2014 he was convicted a third time in Hitchcock County.