The Custer County District Court docket was filled with several criminal cases on Thursday, September 19th. Judge Karin Noakes presided over the cases.
Marlon D. Cucul-Tzin, age 22 of Broken Bow, appeared for his pretrial hearing. The State and the defendant’s attorney informed the judge that a plea agreement had been reached in the case, with all but two counts dismissed. Cucul-Tzin pleaded no contest to Count I, manslaughter, a Class IIA felony; and to Count VI, willful reckless driving, a Class III misdemeanor. The charges stem from a December 3, 2021, motor vehicle accident near Oconto, Nebraska, that resulted in the death of Dan Jacobson of Broken Bow. The Court found the defendant guilty of both charges and sentencing was set for October 24th at 10:15 a.m. A presentence investigation was ordered.
Logan A. Rastavan, age 24 of Greeley, Colorado, appeared for an arraignment and pretrial conference, but attorneys announced a plea agreement. Rastavan entered a no contest plea to the charge of criminal attempt that was reduced to a Class I misdemeanor. The Court found the defendant guilty and ordered him to pay a fine and court costs.
Also appearing on Thursday was Jesse L. Menzie, age 48 of Sargent. He is charged with one count of 1st degree assault, a Class II felony; one count of child abuse, a Class IIIA felony, one count of stalking, a Class IIIA felony; and one count of criminal mischief, a Class III misdemeanor. An evaluation regarding the defendant’s competency to stand trial was entered into exhibit and Judge Noakes ruled the defendant was competent and arraignment could proceed. Menzie pleaded not guilty to all charges and a jury trial was set for February 10, 2025.
Cooper Brass, age 25 of Broken Bow, appeared for a pretrial conference on two cases. The first case involved a motion to revoke probation and the other case was a charge of 3rd degree sexual assault. Under the terms of a plea agreement that was reached, Brass pleaded no contest to the charges. Judge Noakes found the defendant had violated the terms of his probation, as well as found him guilty of the sexual assault charge. A presentence investigation was ordered and bond was set at $25,000 with a 10% privilege. Sentencing for both cases will be November 7th at 1:30.
Cortney J. Alspaugh, age 35 of Broken Bow, appeared in Court for his pretrial hearing. Attorneys announced a plea agreement had been reached in the case and Alspaugh pleaded guilty to a count of making terroristic threats, a Class IIIA felony. The other charges in the case were dismissed. The Court found the defendant guilty, ordered a presentence investigation, and set sentencing for October 24th at 9:45.
An arraignment hearing for Mark Koch, age 62 of Sargent, was on the docket. Aaron Bishop, the defendant’s attorney, informed the Court that Koch was not present for the arraignment due to a medical emergency. A motion to continue was denied by the Judge and a bench warrant was issued, but would be withdrawn if proof of the medical emergency was provided.
Christina M. Page, age 44 of Loup City, appeared for a hearing on probation violation. The defendant denied the allegations and a progression conference was set for November 7th.
