Jail time ordered for DUI, fugitive

McCOOK, Nebraska -- A drunk driver who skipped out on sentencing approximately a year ago received jail time earlier this week in Red Willow County District Court.

The offender, 28-year-old Zachary I. Gordo, was ordered to serve 90 days in jail and pay a $400 fine as a result of his 2014 conviction on charges of drunk driving and felony possession of methamphetamine.

A bench warrant was issued for Gordo at his sentencing hearing in May of 2014 after he failed to appear. Prior to missing his sentencing hearing, Gordo accepted a plea agreement admitting guilt to felony possession of methamphetamine and DUI with a blood alcohol content more than double the legal limit. The plea agreement reduced Gordo's drug charge from a Class III felony alleging distribution of a controlled substance, down to a Class IV felony for possession. It also dismissed additional offenses for driving under suspension and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gordo was sentenced Monday to 90 days in jail on the Class IV felony, in addition to 60 days in jail to be served at the same time on the DUI charge. The DUI also netted him a $400 fine and his driver's license was revoked for one year.

Gordo was given credit at sentencing for 16 days already served and given Nebraska's "good-time" provisions will likely spend no more than 37 days in jail.

Gordo was found unconscious behind the steering wheel of a running vehicle in November of 2013. At the time, his foot lay firmly pressed on the accelerator to the point visibility in the area was clouded with smoke from burning rubber.

According to court documents he crashed his Chevy Tahoe into the side of a motor home in the Chief Motel parking lot. A McCook police officer responding to the call found a smoke filled parking lot, as the tires from Gordo's vehicle continued to spin uncontrollably on the pavement. The officer was able to shift Gordo's vehicle into park but had to back out for a breath of air due to the thick smoke, before returning to remove Gordo's leg from the accelerator and eventually turn off the vehicle's engine.

Gordo was unresponsive and the officer noted he had blood on his shirt and an alcohol bottle lay on the floorboard of the vehicle. Several full and empty baggies containing methamphetamine and residue, as well as a glass pipe with residue, were discovered at the scene.

A preliminary test indicated Gordo had a blood alcohol content of (.197).

Other activity in Red Willow County District Court, April 6, 2015:

* 43-year-old Leland L. Kleckner Jr. of 1107 W. Fourth Street pleaded not guilty to Class IV felony possession of a controlled substance, in addition to infractions alleging possession of drug paraphernalia and failing to signal a turn.

Kleckner was scheduled for a status hearing at 11 a.m. on May 4, 2015.

* 44-year-old Senamon R. Rogers of 1209 West 12th Street is facing probation violations stemming from her arrest in March by the Nebraska State Patrol on charges of possession of methamphetamine and other offenses. Rogers is also charged with violating her court ordered probation by testing positive for meth.

Rogers will face sentencing on the probation violations at 1 p.m. on May 4, 2015.

She was originally sentenced to 36 months probation in January stemming from several drug related charges, including a Class 4 felony for possession of a controlled substance; a Class 2 misdemeanor for operating a motor vehicle on a revoked driver's license; a Class 3 misdemeanor for unlawful possession of a legend drug, gabapentin; and infractions for possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and possessing an open alcohol container.

* 32-year-old Tyler C. Graham of 38503 County Road 714 pleaded not guilty to a Class 3 felony charge alleging possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. The case was subsequently scheduled for a status hearing at 1:45 p.m. on May 4, 2015.