It was a busy morning in Custer County District Court on Thursday, May 15th. Judge Karin Noakes presided over all the cases.
Appearing for arraignment was Anthony E. Holmes, age 55 of Lexington. Holmes had been 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. In a plea agreement reached with the State, the defendant entered a guilty plea to the flight to avoid arrest charge in exchange for dismissal of the other charges. Judge Noakes ordered a presentence investigation prior to sentencing on June 26th.
Also appearing for arraignment was Brandon J. Fewkes, age 39 of Broken Bow. In February of this year, Fewkes was charged with four counts: terroristic threats, a Class IIIA felony; use of a weapon to commit a felony, a Class IC felony; child abuse, a Class IIIA felony; and 3rd degree domestic assault, a Class I misdemeanor. The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges and Judge Noakes set a jury trial for October 20th.
Airen J. Popham, age 41 of Oconto, appeared for her pretrial conference. A plea agreement was reached and the defendant will participate in problem solving court in exchange for a guilty plea to possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, a Class IV felony. Judge Noakes found Popham guilty of the charge and deferred sentencing until completion or termination of drug court.
Pretrial hearings were on the docket for two cases against Joshua D. Stiebritz, age 45 of Broken Bow. Stiebritz appeared remotely and was represented by his attorney, Andrew Hanquist. In the first case, stemming from an arrest on November 16, 2024, the defendant had previously entered not guilty pleas to Class IV felonies—possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, and possession of lisdexamfetamine. The Court was informed a plea agreement had been reached in that case and the defendant would now plead guilty. The second case against the defendant was from an arrest on January 3, 2025. In that case, Stiebritz was charged with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, a Class IV felony, as well as four other counts, all misdemeanors or infractions. Stiebritz had previously pleaded not guilty to all five counts. The State said a plea agreement was also reached in this case. In exchange for a guilty plea to possession of a controlled substance, all other counts would be dismissed. Stiebritz has been accepted to problem solving court. After accepting the guilty pleas, the Judge deferred sentencing in the cases.
Carsen Wilson, age 20 of Broken Bow, appeared for a pretrial conference. His attorney, Matthew Furrow, requested a continuance as depositions are currently being taken in the case. Judge Noakes allowed the continuance and set a jury trial for October 20th. In November of 2024, Wilson pleaded not guilty to fifteen felony counts stemming from a shooting incident that occurred in Merna in October 2024.
