Several felony cases were heard in Custer County District Court on Thursday, October 29th.
Charles M. Murphy, age 48 of Mason City, appeared with his defense attorney, Matt Furrow, and with Matt McDonald, an attorney with the Nebraska Commission of Public Advocacy. Murphy was arraigned on six counts that allegedly occurred in June of 2023 and he pleaded not guilty to all charges. The defendant is charged with one count of 1st degree sexual assault of a child who is at least 12 years of age but under 16, a Class I felony; two counts of incest of a child under 18, both Class IIA felonies; one count of 3rd degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 14, a Class IIIA felony; and two counts of child abuse, both Class IIIA felonies. A jury trial was set for February 8, 2027, with a pretrial conference scheduled for January 21, 2027. Judge Karin Noakes also heard and sustained the defense’s motion for depositions. A bond of $250,000 with 10% privilege was continued and Murphy was remanded back to the custody of the Custer County Sheriff.
Also appearing for an arraignment was Joseph A. Pittman, age 37 of Cozad. Pittman is charged with theft of stolen property with a value of over $5,000 by unlawful taking, a Class IIA felony, and with flight to avoid arrest, a Class IV felony. Pittman is also charged with DUI-1st offense and refusal to submit to a chemical test, both Class W misdemeanors, as well as willful reckless driving, a Class III misdemeanor. The charges are from an arrest on September 17th. Pittman pleaded not guilty to all charges and a jury trial will be held on February 8, 2027. Bond was continued and the defendant was remanded to the custody of the Sheriff.
Ashley E. Menter, age 33 of Broken Bow, was arraigned for two counts stemming from an alleged incident in August. Menter is charged with possession of a controlled substance–amphetamine, and possession of a controlled substance—oxycodone, both Class IV felonies. She pleaded not guilty to the charges and will appear on February 8, 2027 for a jury trial.
A plea agreement was reached in the case of the State v. Evan G. Brandt, age 44 of Seward. Brandt entered a guilty plea to the charge of theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $5,000 or more, a Class IIA felony. The defendant has been accepted into the North Central Problem Solving Court and Judge Noakes deferred sentencing until completion or termination of his problem solving program.
Appearing for sentencing was Brian V. Haumont II, age 34 of Hershey. In September of this year, Haumont entered into a plea agreement and was found guilty of 2nd degree forgery of over $1,500 but less than $5,000, a Class IV felony. Upon review of the presentence investigation and comments from the State and defense attorney, Judge Noakes sentenced Haumont to 18 months probation. Bond wad released and applied to costs.
