CUSTER COUNTY— Custer County Court saw just a few felony cases on Monday, March 2 that were not continued or pled to misdemeanors.
The morning began with Diego Quijada Quijano, 24 of Broken Bow, appearing briefly for a first appearance on strangulation (class IIIA felony) and alleged 3rd-degree domestic assault (class I misdemeanor). Due to Quijano requiring an interpreter, he will be back in court to be arraigned on Thursday, March 6 at 3:45 PM alongside his court-appointed attorney, Jesus Tena.
Mitchell Tagwerker, 26 of North Platte, made his first appearance in court on charges of alleged possession of methamphetamine (class IV felony), possession of hydrocodone (class IV felony), and possession of clonazepam (class IV felony). Tagwerker requested a court-appointed attorney and was assigned public defender Michael Borders.
He will now appear back in court for a preliminary hearing on April 6 at 3 PM. If found guilty of all charges, Tagwerker could face a maximum of six years in prison and be fined up to $30,000.
A bond review was also heard on the case where Custer County Attorney Steve Bowers said that he would be fine with bond being reduced from 10% of $35,000 to a personal recognizance bond. Bowers stated that Tagwerker’s criminal history was short and felt as though the PR bond was appropriate. Judge Tami Schendt agreed and granted the PR bond with the condition that Tagwerker is not to use drugs or alcohol or his bond would be revoked and he would be back in jail.
Airen Popham, 36 of Broken Bow, will make her next appearance in Custer County District Court after waiving preliminary hearing in Custer County Court. Popham is currently being charged with alleged distribution of methamphetamine (class II felony), possession of methamphetamine (class IV felony), and child abuse (class IIIA felony).
Popham will now be arraigned in district court on March 19 at 9:30 AM. While Popham could face a maximum sentence of 55 years in prison and be fined up to $20,000, there was discussion that she would be recommended to North Central Nebraska Problem Solving Court.
