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Jail handed down for resisting arrest
McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man arrested in 2014 while attempting to break into a rural home was sentenced to jail time last week in Red Willow County District Court. The man, 19-year-old Colin R. McConnell-Vontz of 803 West 4th Street, was sentenced to 300 days in jail on a Class IV felony for attempted burglary with credit for 177 days already served.
McConnell-Vontz accepted a plea agreement in July admitting guilt to the felony charge while dismissing a Class 3 felony alleging theft by unlawful taking and a Class I misdemeanor alleging he resisted arrest. The theft charge stemmed from a 4-wheeler owned by James Ruggles and allegedly taken by McConnell-Vontz from a Quonset on County Road 382 prior to the attempted residential break-in, according to court documents.
Red Willow County Sheriff's deputies responding to a reported break-in found McConnell-Vontz standing inside the doorway of a rural residence on County Road 386. He had opened the screen door to the home and continued attempts to open the main door, even while law enforcement officers asked what he was doing. He refused to respond to officer's questions other than to say the word "proof" twice and physically resisted their attempts to arrest him.
McConnell-Vontz was 17 years old at the time of the County Road 386 burglary attempt. He was tried as an adult after a review of his background indicated he had at least one juvenile adjudication in Nebraska and numerous contacts with law enforcement for driving violations, minor in possession, curfew violations and being a runaway, according to court documents.
Other activity in Red Willow County District Court, Sept. 12, 2016:
* A plea agreement was reached with a McCook man admitting guilt to a misdemeanor offense for carrying a concealed weapon. The man, 42-year-old Patrick B. Grossman of 902 West M Street, was originally facing a Class 3 felony alleging he was a convicted felon in possession of a deadly weapon.
Grossman was subsequently scheduled for sentencing at 2 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2016.
The charge stemmed from Grossman's arrest in July and four knives confiscated from him at the time, including a 14 inch long machete and another knife with a four-and-three-quarter inch blade. Grossman is a convicted felon out of Kansas and is prohibited from possessing any knife with a blade over three-and-half inches, according to court documents.
* Sentencing was scheduled for a North Platte man accused of burglarizing the Congregational Church on East E Street in 2015. The man, 19-year-old Maxwell J. Allen, will face sentencing on a trio of misdemeanor offenses at 9:45 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2016.
Allen was originally facing a Class 2A felony alleging he burglarized the church. He will face sentencing on a Class I misdemeanor for criminal trespassing; a Class 2 misdemeanor for theft by unlawfully taking property valued at less than $500; and a Class 3 misdemeanor for criminal mischief which caused damage to property valued at less than $500.
* A Bartley woman pleaded not guilty to a Class IV felony alleging possession of methamphetamine. The case against the woman, 28-year-old Rachelle A. Sena, was subsequently scheduled for trial at 9 a.m. on Jan. 8, 2017.
* A trial was scheduled in early December for a McCook man facing a pair of Class 3 felony offenses alleging distribution of cocaine. The man, 23-year-old Edgar Rodriguez of 308 E. Third Street, pleaded not guilty to the charges in August and is scheduled for trial at 9 a.m. on Dec. 6 and 7.
* A McCook man pleaded not guilty to a Class 3 felony alleging sexual assault of a child. The case against the man, 28-year-old Steven M. Vigneur of 901 East B Street, was subsequently scheduled for a motions hearing at 11 a.m. on Oct. 13, 2016.
* A status hearing was scheduled at 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2016, for a McCook man facing a Class IV felony alleging possession of methamphetamine. The man, 45-year-old Robby J. Carfield formerly of 602 W. Third Street, pleaded not guilty to the charge in May.
* A Cambridge man was arraigned on assault and drug charges. The man, 25-year-old Tyler J. Mercer, is facing a Class IV felony alleging possession of methamphetamine; a Class I misdemeanor alleging third-degree assault; and an infraction alleging possession of drug paraphernalia. A hearing was subsequently scheduled in the case at 10:45 a.m. on Oct. 3, 2016.
* A status hearing was scheduled at 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 7, 2016, for a McCook man facing a Class IV felony alleging he violated a protection order while having a prior conviction for violating a protection order. The man, 57-year-old Kirk L. Hahn of 38343 County Road 714, pleaded not guilty to the charge in July.