Custer County Court was in session on Monday, October 19th with Judge Tami Schendt presiding.
In the case of the State vs. Charles M. Murphy, the defendant waived his preliminary hearing on October 15th and he will appear in Custer County District Court for arraignment on October 29th. Murphy, age 48 of Mason City, was arraigned in September on six counts, including 1st degree sexual assault of a child, child abuse, and incest. A bond of $250,000 with 10% privilege was continued and the defendant remains in the Custer County Jail.
Joseph A. Pittman, age 37 of Cozad appeared for a preliminary hearing. He waived the preliminary hearing and his case was also bound over to Custer County District Court for arraignment on October 29th. 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. A request to reduce bond from $15,000 with 10% privilege to $10,000 with 10% privilege was denied and the defendant was remanded back to the custody of the Custer County Sheriff.
Also in court on Monday for a preliminary hearing was Trevor E. Millsap, age 20 of Broken Bow. Defense attorney Matt Furrow told the court that an amended complaint had been filed and therefore a plea agreement had been reached. Millsap pleaded no contest to the amended charge of theft of lottery tickets valued at over $500 but less than $1,500. Judge Schendt found Millsap guilty of the amended charge and ordered the defendant to pay $3,080 in restitution to Pump & Pantry. A presentence investigation was ordered and sentencing was set for January 4, 2027. In June, Millsap was charged with a Class IV felony charge of theft after being accused of taking books of lottery scratch tickets while employed at the Broken Bow Pump & Pantry.
