McCook man pleads guilty to misdemeanors

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A plea agreement was reached with a McCook man, who had been charged with two counts of felony drug possession, that admitted guilt to two misdemeanor charges of attempting to possess a controlled substance. Sentencing for the man, 54-year-old James D. Nelson of 906 East E Street, was subsequently scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on April 30, in Red Willow County District Court.

The charges against Nelson stem from a traffic stop in May 2011 near East Sixth Street in McCook. Nelson was arrested after the Nebraska State Patrol found methamphetamine, detroamphetamine and marijuana in Nelson's vehicle.

Nelson was originally charges with two Class IV felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, in addition to an infraction for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana. He was assigned a public defender in July 2011 and pleaded not guilty to all charges in December 2011.

The plea agreement, offered by Red Willow County Attorney Paul Wood, admitted guilt to two misdemeanor charges of attempting to possess a controlled substance and an infraction for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

A McCook woman pleaded not guilty to a felony drug possession charge, March 5, in Red Willow County District Court. The woman, 30-year-old Constance M. Hardenbrook of 303 S. Ninth Street, has been charged with one Class IV felony of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, in addition to an infraction for possession of drug paraphernalia.

A motions hearing was subsequently scheduled for Hardenbrook, April 12, in Red Willow County District Court.

A Rapid City, South Dakota, woman pleaded not guilty to one Class IIIA felony charge of third degree sexual assault. The charge against the woman, 23-year-old Heather Jo Geary, stems from an Oct. 2010 incident in which she is accused of subjecting another person, age 14 or younger, to sexual contact when she was at least 19 years of age herself.

A motions hearing was scheduled for 10 a.m. on April 2, 2012, in Red Willow County District Court.