Custer County district court was in session this past Thursday (March 19). Several cases moved forward.
George Peterson, age 38 of Broken Bow, appeared for arraignment. A plea agreement had been met with the state and Peterson pled no contest to a charge of third degree domestic assault against a pregnant woman (a class IIIA felony). As a result, six other charges including use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, resisting arrest, terroristic threats, child abuse, and third degree domestic assault were dismissed.
Peterson’s charges stem from events in May and November of 2025. An arrest affidavit detailed domestic violence and abuse by Peterson on surveillance footage as well as an arrest incident where Peterson threatened the life of others in addition to his own through refusal to arrest.
Peterson posted 10% bond of $750,000 in December and will return to court for sentencing on May 7, 2026 at 10 AM after being found guilty on Thursday. He faces no minimum charge and a maximum charge of three years imprisonment and 18 months post-release supervision, a $10,000 fine, or both on the remaining felony charge.
John Anderson, age 33 of Arapahoe, appeared for sentencing after entering a plea of no contest and being found guilty to an amended charge of motor vehicle homicide (class I misdemeanor). The charge stems from events detailed in an arrest affidavit where Anderson’s semi and trailer impacted a tractor on the shoulder, turned onto its side and was impacted by a Ford pickup driven by a man who was killed.
Judge Karin Noakes ordered Anderson to serve two years of probation and pay restitution. Anderson’s license was also revoked for a 2 year period. He will also serve two days in the Custer County Jail in August of this year and August of 2027 while being given credit for one day already served.
