Several criminal cases came before Judge Karin L. Noakes in the Custer County District Court on Thursday, June 27th.
Thursday afternoon, Timothy A. Rosentrater, age 62 of Callaway, appeared for a preliminary hearing on additional charges that were filed in May of 2024. In all, Rosentrater is charged with four counts of 1st degree sexual assault, Class II felonies; eight counts of sexual assault of a child, Class IIIA felonies, one count of 2nd degree sexual assault, a Class III felony, and one count of 3rd degree sexual assault, a Class I misdemeanor. The alleged assaults occurred in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2024. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges. A jury trial is set for October 15, 2024 with a pretrial hearing on September 19th.
Morning cases before the Court on Thursday, included a hearing to determine competency for Michael D. Larreau, age 28 of Broken Bow. The defendant waived his right to counsel, but the State questioned his ability to represent himself. After reviewing exhibits, Judge Noakes sustained the State’s request for a competency evaluation to be conducted by staff at the Lincoln Regional Center.
Ronald T. Countee, age 69 of Sargent, appeared for arraignment on charges of Count I, 1st degree sexual assault, a Class II felony, and Count II, abuse of a vulnerable adult, a Class IIIA felony. The defendant pleaded not guilty to both counts. A pretrial conference was set for September 19th, and a jury trial was scheduled for October 15, 2024.
Elijah D. Conner, age 19 of Ord, was in court for arraignment on three charges stemming from his arrest in May. Conner is charged with two counts of first degree sexual assault, Class II felonies, and one count of first degree false imprisonment, a Class IIIA felony. Conner pleaded not guilty to all charges. The defendant’s attorney, Matthew Furrow, requested a bond reduction for the defendant who is currently in the Custer County Jail. Judge Noakes denied that request and a jury trial was set for October 15th.
Appearing for a pretrial hearing on a motion to revoke his post release supervision was Branden Miller, age 31 of Omaha. Miller was serving the supervision period after being sentenced in 2020 for cruelty to an animal, a Class IIIA felony, and receiving a sentence of one year imprisonment followed by 18 months of post release supervision. Hearing that a plea agreement had been reached, Judge Noakes honored that agreement and sentenced Miller to 120 days in the Nebraska Department of Corrections. That sentence will run concurrently with the defendant’s sentence in a different case in Butler County.
Also on Thursday’s court docket was a hearing on the application to authorize ID procedures in the case of State v. Darrin L. Ostrander, age 29 of Broken Bow. Ostrander is facing one count of alleged first-degree sexual assault, a Class II felony. The State’s request was denied by Judge Noakes.
A hearing to review competency for Steven Olson, age 71 of Broken Bow, was held. The defendant was not in court, but his attorney, Matthew Furrow, was present. Olson faces alleged charges of terroristic threats, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, 1st offense resisting arrest, and criminal mischief. In April of this year, Olson was ordered by the court to undergo a competency determination. Olson remains in the Lincoln Regional Center and is still not deemed competent to stand trial. The Court will review Olson’s status again on August 22nd.
