Custer County District Court heard several cases Thursday.
In CR 24-45, the defendant Francisca E. Miller, 38 years of age from Oconto, withdrew a no contest plea and pled guilty to Count 1, possession of a controlled substance(meth), a Class IV felony. Judge Karin L. Noakes deferred Miller’s sentence as she has been accepted into the North Central problem solving court for treatment.
In a separate case involving Miller, CR 25-5, Miller’s attorney and the State prosecutor announced a plea agreement between the parties from an incident from January 3rd of this year. The state dismissed Counts 1 and 3 of the charges, and Miller pled guilty to Count 2, possession of methamphetamine, a Class IV felony. Miller has been accepted into the North Central problem solving program and sentencing has been deferred.
In CR 25-4, 61 year old Oconto resident Jimmy D. Mortensen pled not guilty to three separate counts coming from an incident on January 3rd of this year. Mortensen is charged with Count 1, possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute, a Class II felony; Count 2, possession of a controlled substance, a Class IV felony; Count 3, possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction. Judge Noakes set a jury trial to begin June 9th.
In CR 25-3, 39 year old Broken Bow resident Miranda L. Luera pled guilty to Count 1, possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class II felony from a November 28, 2024 incident. Judge Noakes deferred sentencing upon completion or termination of a drug program. Luera has been accepted into the North Central problem solving court.
In CR 24-28, 49 year old Sargent resident Jesse L. Menzie appeared via Zoom. The State presented evidence from a recent evaluation conducted by a doctor at the Lincoln Regional Center, which determined Menzie was not competent to stand trial at this time, but following treatment would be able to stand trial. Judge Noakes said based on the evaluation she was ordering Menzie to stay at LRC and set another competency hearing for April 17th at 12:30pm.
