McCook man sentenced to probation on felony drug charge

Thursday, September 1, 2016
Kalen C. Waddell

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man was sentenced to probation recently on a felony drug charge in Red Willow County District Court.

The man, 28-year-old Kalen C. Waddell of 712 E. Second Street, was sentenced to 30 months probation on a Class IV felony for possession of hashish. Waddell accepted a plea agreement in June dismissing a second Class IV felony alleging possession of methamphetamine, as well as infractions alleging possession of drug paraphernalia and first-degree criminal trespassing.

The charges against Waddell stem from his arrest at gunpoint in December at a vacant West Circle Drive home in McCook. Investigators recovered items from the house indicating Waddell had likely been residing there for several days, according to court documents.

The drug charges stemmed from two small canisters containing marijuana residue, a syringe containing hash oil and a bent spoon which tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.

At the time of the arrest, he was also cited with an additional charge for unlawful acts, stemming from his admission to being under the influence of a controlled substance.

The vacant home was owned by Waddell's grandmother, Janice Waddell, who told investigators she thought he was at a drug rehab center in Lincoln and had no idea how he obtained a key to the house.

Waddell was already on probation at the time of the arrest stemming from an Aug. 3, 2015, conviction for felony possession of meth and driving on a suspended driver's license. He was subsequently ordered to serve 30 months probation beginning Aug. 8, 2016, and complete a cognitive thinking program as a result of violating his probation with the December arrest.