Custer County District Court was in session on Thursday, January 16th, with Judge Karin L. Noakes presiding.
Kindra A. Potter, age 33 of Berwyn, appeared for pretrial hearings in two criminal cases. It was announced that a plea agreement had been reached in both matters resulting in the dismissal of one case and Potter pleading guilty to 1st degree forgery, a Class III felony, in the other case. Seven counts in the second case were also dismissed per the agreement. The plea agreement also outlined the amounts of restitution Potter will be required to make in the case. The defendant was found guilty and Judge Noakes ordered a presentence investigation be completed before sentencing that is set for March 6th.
During a pretrial hearing for Elijah Conner, age 20 of Ord, attorneys told the court that a plea agreement had been reached. In exchange for dropping two counts, Conner pleaded guilty to Count III, child abuse, a Class I misdemeanor. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was set for March 6th.
Timothy A. Rosentrater, age 63 of Callaway, was also in court for a pretrial hearing. Rosentrater was charged in May of 2024 with fourteen sexual assault cases, including several counts of sexual assault of a child. The defense said the parties were working on a plea agreement and requested a continuance. Judge Noakes allowed the continuance and a jury trial was set for June 9th. A status conference is scheduled for February 20th.
A pretrial hearing was held for Drake M. Conroy, age 26 of Merna. Last July, Conroy was charged with 4th offense DUI, a Class IIA felony. The State announced that the charge had been amended to 2nd offense DUI, aggravated, a Class I misdemeanor. The defendant pleaded guilty to the amended charge and a presentence investigation with a chemical dependency evaluation was ordered by the court. Sentencing was set for March 20th.
Carsen W. Wilson, age 19 of Broken Bow, also appeared for a pretrial hearing. In November of 2024, Wilson pleaded not guilty to fifteen charges stemming from charges filed in October. A continuance in the case was requested and granted. Jury trial is now set for June 9th with a pretrial conference slated for May 15th.
A plea agreement was reached in the case of State v. Caleb D. Grant. Grant, age 19 of Ansley, pleaded no contest to two counts of 3rd degree assault, Class I misdemeanors, in exchange for the dismissal of two other counts. The charges were from an October 2024 incident. Judge Noakes ordered a presentence investigation be completed prior to the February 20th sentencing. A bond hearing was also held for Grant. After hearing from the defense and from the State, the Judge modified the bond from $75,000 with a 10% privilege to a personal recognizance bond.
Phillip S. Duncan, age 53 of Broken Bow, appeared for a pretrial hearing. Parties announced a plea agreement had been reached and Duncan pleaded no contest to eleven charges from an arrest in July 2024. Those charges included use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, 3rd degree assault, and terroristic threats. The Judge ordered a presentence investigation prior to the sentencing on February 20th.
