A former Fremont man accused of stealing more than $2,400 from Ace Rent-To-Own while he was the store’s manager was sentenced Monday in Dodge County District Court to nine months in jail.
Jeffrey A. Edwards, 35, now of Cincinnati, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of theft, a Class I misdemeanor, on Jan. 30. He originally was charged with theft, a Class IV felony.
As part of that plea agreement, Edwards raised the money for restitution. However, he did not show up for his original sentencing date.
Dodge County Attorney Paul Vaughan cited that failure to appear and a past criminal record when requesting the denial of probation.
“I am concerned by Mr. Edwards taking money from his employer while in a position of trust and not appearing for court,” Vaughan said.
Brad Nick, Edwards’ attorney, said his client already had served 49 days in jail and was turning his life around as a general manager of a restaurant in Cincinnati.
“Let’s face it your honor, 50 days in jail is no small penalty,” Nick said. “It’s a completely adequate sentence.”
He asked for a sentence of time served plus the restitution.
Judge John Samson said he was concerned with Edwards’ disrespect for the law before sentencing him to nine months in jail.
Other cases heard Monday included:
* Amber Beecher, 22, of Fremont pleaded guilty to one count of delivery of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, a Class III felony. In exchange for her plea, two identical charges were dismissed. She is accused of selling nearly three grams of methamphetamine April 12, 2005, to a III-CORPS Drug Task Force confidential informant. A pre-sentence investigation and substance abuse evaluation were ordered. Sentencing was set for June 5.
* Theresa Christ, 29, of Fremont admitted to violating her probation for possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, a Class IV felony, by failing to establish a permanent residence with a land line telephone. She waived her right to an updated pre-sentence investigation and was sentenced to six months in jail. Christ was placed on intense supervised probation two weeks ago.
* Jamey Crawford, 30, of Fremont pleaded no contest to theft by receiving stolen property, a Class III felony. In exchange for his plea, a charge of theft by unlawful taking, a Class I misdemeanor, was dismissed and the state agreed not to seek a habitual criminal enhancement that would require a minimum 10-year prison sentence.
Crawford is accused of stealing a 2004 Honda four-wheeler valued at $2,700 in November in rural Dodge County. He left that vehicle at a friend’s home partially covered with sticks and a pallet. Sentencing was set for May 8.
* Michelle Dobrovolny, 29, of Omaha had her trial scheduled for next week continued indefinitely pending a mental competency evaluation. She is charged with attempting to obtain a controlled substance by fraud, a Class IV felony. Dobrovolny is incarcerated in Holt County on an unrelated matter.
* Nicholas A. Green, 20, of Fremont had his arraignment continued until this morning so he could consider a plea agreement. He was to be arraigned on a new charge of confined person assault, a Class IIIA felony. He is accused of biting the hand of a guard. Vaughan said the possible plea agreement includes Green’s trial scheduled for May 9 for charges of child abuse and resisting arrest-second offense, both Class IIIA felonies, and violation of a protection order, a Class II misdemeanor.
* Katie J. Keller, 24, of Fremont pleaded innocent to possession of a controlled substance-clonazepam and possession of a controlled substance-psilocybin mushrooms, both Class IV felonies, and possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction. A jury trial was requested and the deadline for pretrial motions was set for May 12 with further proceedings set for May 15.
* A May 10 hearing on a motion in limonae was set for Casey Stewart, 20, of Fremont.
That motion asks the court for pre-trial rulings on evidentiary matters. His defense asserts drugs found in his residence could not be positively determined to be his because it was not his permanent or exclusive residence.
Stewart is charged with possession of a controlled substance-alprazolam and theft, both Class IV felonies. He is also charged with criminal mischief, a Class II misdemeanor, and possession of marijuana-less than an ounce, an infraction.
* A bench warrant was issued for Richard J. Whitmore, 31, of Omaha for failing to appear for a probation revocation hearing. Bond was set at 10 percent of $20,000 upon his arrest. Whitmore is accused of violating his probation by being arrested in Pottawatamie County for felon in possession of a firearm, a Class IV felony, and for testing positive for methamphetamine four times while on probation for possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, a Class IV felony.
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