February 4, 2012

Failure to signal leads to discovery of 325 pounds of marijuana on I-80

Two men from Nevada have been escorted to the York County jail after a Nebraska State Patrol trooper found nearly 325 pounds of marijuana in the toolbox of their pickup.

Well, the marijuana actually wasn’t in the pickup tool box. It was contained in a false compartment inside a wooden tool box in the bed of the pickup.

The patrol reports the trooper stopped 29-year-old Alvin Sias of Henderson, NV when he failed to signal at the Bradshaw interchange on I-80. He and his passenger, 37-year-old Chad Baillargeon of Las Vegas were arrested and charged with possession with intent to deliver.

Traffic stops near Lincoln airport net nearly 30 pounds of marijuana

Two traffic stops near the Lincoln airport netted nearly 30 pounds of marijuana, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.

The patrol reports a trooper stopped a car for improper display of a rear license plate near the airport exit. A search of the car discovered nearly 24 pounds of marijuana contained in 20 individual packages, located in two totes in the cargo area of the car. 40-year-old Craig Bartmer of Lawndale, CA is in the Lancaster County jail, charged with intent to sell the marijuana.

Earlier near the same I-80 exit, a trooper stopped a car for an improper lane change and discovered three pounds of marijuana in a suitcase in the trunk of the car. Vincent Falco, 40, of Antioch, IL has been charged with intent to sell and also is incarcerated in the Lancaster County jail.

Nephew accused of stealing more than half a million dollars from elderly uncle

A Pawnee City man has been charged with stealing more than half a million dollars from his elderly uncle.

The Nebraska State Patrol reports a five-month investigation led to the arrest of 55-year-old Lewis D. Rakosnik without incident at his uncle’s home in Pawnee City. Rakosnik is charged with knowing and intentional abuse of a vulnerable adult.

The patrol states that a friend of the uncle contacted Rakosnik about a year ago, asking that he care for his uncle who was ill. Rakosnik moved into his uncle’s home. He was given durable power of attorney.

Authorities accuse Rakosnik of selling land, cashing out certificates of deposits and transferring money from his uncle’s bank account, liquidating more than $600,000.

Rakosnik has been incarcerated in the Johnson County jail.

Use of force against intruders after shots fired at suspect

A retired Douglas County sheriff’s deputy fired a shot at a vehicle speeding away from his Omaha home Tuesday morning. Inside that vehicle was a burglary suspect. Authorities say Freddie Abraham interrupted the burglary around 8:20 am and the front door shows signs of damage.

This brings up the question in what situations can residents use guns or other weapons against intruders. Chris Zeeb is a spokesman with the Nebraska Firearms Association and says there are four instances where deadly force can be used. He says a person must be facing an eminent danger of death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual assault.

Zeeb says there is a discretionary line when shooting someone is justified and when not. He says you can not shoot an unarmed burglar if he or she shows no threat of bodily harm. However, Zeeb says pulling a gun on someone in that situation is justifiable as long as it is not fired.

Falls City man pleads guilty to possessing child pornography

A Falls City man has pleaded guilty to six counts of possession of child pornography.

The Attorney General’s office reports that 21-year-old Noah Hall will be sentenced in March in Richardson County District Court.

“Mr. Hall downloaded sexually explicit images of children being victimized,” Attorney General Jon Bruning said in a written statement. “This crime not only violates the law, it perpetuates the damage done by revictimizing each child involved.”

Bruning’s office says the plea stemmed from an investigation by the Attorney General’s Office Rural Cybercrimes Unit, which discovered multiple sexually explicit images of children on Hall’s computer.