Custer County Court was held on Monday, December 2nd, with Judge Tami Schendt presiding.
Evan A. Phillips, age 63 of Callaway, appeared on a Class IIIA felony charge of violating the Sex Offender Registration Act. A preliminary hearing for the case was set for January 13, 2025.
A status hearing was held for Brian V. Haumont II, age 33 of Gothenburg. Haumont is charged with nine counts of 2nd degree forgery ($5,000 or more) and nine additional counts of identity theft ($5,000 or more). All 18 counts are Class IIA felonies. A preliminary hearing was set for January 6, 2025.
A preliminary hearing was held for Shawn M. Branthoover, age 55 of Berwyn. Branthoover is charged with failure to register as a sex offender, a Class IIIA felony. A plea agreement was reached between the State and the defendant who pleaded no contest to the charges. Judge Schendt sentenced Branthoover to nine months’ probation and court costs.
Miranda L. Luera, age 39 of Broken Bow, was arraigned in court on Monday afternoon. Luera is charged with Count I, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (methamphetamine), a Class II felony; Count II, possession of marijuana less than one ounce, an infraction; Count III, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction; and Count IV, failure to use a turn signal, an infraction. The charges stem from an arrest on November 28th. Matthew Furrow was appointed her attorney and he requested a bond review hearing. Judge Schendt granted the request and bond was reduced from $50,000 with a 10% privilege to $10,000 with a 10% privilege. A preliminary hearing was set for January 6, 2025.
Appearing for a preliminary hearing was Anthony E. Holmes, age 55 of Lexington. Holmes waived his right to a preliminary hearing and he will be arraigned in Custer County District Court on December 19th. Holmes was recently taken into custody for failure to appear on charges that were filed in September of 2021. At that time, Holmes was charged with three counts—flight to avoid arrest, a Class IV felony; willful reckless driving, a Class III misdemeanor; and speeding 98 in a 65 mph zone, an infraction. A personal recognizance bond for $10,000 was set by the court.
