CUSTER COUNTY—Custer County District Court held its first hearing of November with only three felony cases on the docket on Thursday, November 7.
The morning began with Colt Corbin, 23 of Broken Bow, appearing to possibly be terminated from problem solving court. The state filed a motion to terminate Corbin from problem solving court after multiple violations occurred including failing to attend meetings and problem-solving court as well as testing positive for drugs and alcohol on multiple occasions.
Following the reading of the alleged violations, Judge Karin Noakes asked Corbin to admit or deny the allegations to which he admitted to the violations. After admitting to the violations, Judge Noakes ruled to terminate Corbin from problem-solving court. He will now appear for sentencing in two different cases where he was found guilty of possession of a controlled substance (class IV felony) and burglary (class IIA felony). Corbin could face up to 22 years in prison if sentenced to the maximum allowed by law.
Bryan Baker, 57 of Merna, has taken a plea deal and will now face one charge of criminal mischief (class IV felony) after pleading no contest. With the plea deal, the state agreed to amend the charges to only criminal mischief and would recommend two years of probation as well as restitution totaling $13,849.25. Baker will now be back in court on December 19 at 10:15 AM for sentencing where he could face up to two years in prison.
Robyn Frawley, 29 of Broken Bow, was the final criminal case of the morning as she was sentenced for possession of a controlled substance (class IV felony) having previously been found guilty of the charge. During sentencing, the state, represented by Deputy County Attorney Kayla Clark, stated that Frawley did not take responsibility for her drug use and also believed that there was substance abuse issues and mental health problems. Clark asked that Frawley be incarcerated for 18 months.
Frawley’s attorney, Brandon Hanson, agreed with the state that Frawley had made some bad choices, but argued that a jail sentence would not help her condition. Instead, Hanson asked that Frawley be sentenced to probation and that if a jail sentence was necessary, to allow her time served.
Judge Noakes told Frawley that she believed she was not a candidate for probation, due to failing the programs in problem-solving court, and was likely to commit the crimes again. Judge Noakes sentenced Frawley to six months in the county jail and was also given credit for 97 days already served.