BROKEN BOW—The Broken Bow man who robbed Trotters Whoa and go and the Pump & Pantry earlier this year has withdrawn his not guilty plea and has pled guilty to two counts of robbery. In a plea agreement with the state, for a guilty or no contest plea by Duncan to the burglary charges, the state would dismiss the charges of use of a firearm to commit a felony.
In the factual basis read by County Attorney Steve Bowers to the court, Duncan entered Pump & Pantry on February 14 and used what appeared to be a gun to rob the gas station taking approximately $166. On July 31, Duncan entered the Trotters Whoa and Go and took approximately $305 while appearing to use a weapon to do so.
During the investigation, video evidence was found that the person who robbed the Trotters was wearing a yellow shirt that could be seen under the coat of the suspect. Later, Duncan entered the Trotters Whoa and Go wearing the yellow shirt which had his last name printed on the back. He was also observed wearing a Becton Dickenson badge that also had his name and picture on the front. Duncan was later arrested in the BD parking lot where, according to the factual basis, they found a toy gun and B.B. gun in the back seat of his vehicle. Duncan later admitted to robbing the Pump & Pantry on February 14.
Duncan and his attorney Michael Borders did argue the use of the B.B. gun, but did agree the rest of the factual basis. Judge Karen Noakes set the case for sentencing to take place on February 7, 2019 at 10 A.M.
Ishok Lords was arraigned on three separate counts of accused criminal non-support, a class IV felony, dating back to October 2016. Lords is also facing a habitual criminal enhancement if he is convicted of his third felony. A habitual criminal enhancement carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years and a maximum of sixty years in prison. Lords elected to represent himself for this case.
When Judge Noakes asked Lords how he pleaded to the accused charges, he remained silent, thus the court entered a not guilty plea on his behalf. Judge Noakes set the case for jury trial to take place on February 11 at 9 A.M. Soon after the date was set, Lords stormed out of the courtroom, but Deputy County Attorney Kayla Clark did ask the judge for a personal recognizance bond which was agreed upon.
Michael Coffman, who appeared for arraignment was also sentenced on Thursday for two counts of theft on December 30, 2017. Coffman and two others escaped the YRTC in Kearney last year and in the process stole two vehicles. Coffman is facing sentencing next week in Buffalo County and thus his sentencing was sped up to Thursday in Custer County District Court. Coffman did withdraw his previous plea of not guilty and pled guilty to the both charges of theft.
According to the District Court Clerk, Coffman was sentenced to one year in prison for each count of theft and to run concurrent with any sentences handed down in Buffalo County. Coffman was also ordered to pay restitution jointly and separately for the theft of the vehicles.
Also according to the District Court Clerk, Christopher Gallett was sentenced to 9 months in the Custer County Jail as well as 12 months of post release supervision for violation of the sexual offenders act.
Sentencing for Holli Erstrom was continued to January 17, 2019 at 10:45 A.M. Erstrom is facing charges of theft from November of 2017 where she allegedly took $5,000 or more from a Callaway branch of Country Partners Cooperative.
