Man gets prison for meth, destructive device

McCOOK, Neb. -- A McCook man received prison time Monday in Red Willow County District Court stemming from the law enforcement raid of his West Third Street residence in April. The offender, 29-year-old Thomas R. Ortiz of 901 W. Third Street, was sentenced to a combined 24-72 months in state prison after being convicted on felony offenses for possession of methamphetamine and possession of a destructive device, in addition to violating his probation in a previous felony conviction.

Ortiz accepted a plea agreement in July admitting guilt to the pair of Class IV felony offenses, as well as an infraction for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ortiz and three other individuals were arrested during the early morning raid, each charged with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. The others arrested were 34-year-old Kevin M. Gerih, 37-year-old Christina F. Lopez and 27-year-old Colette F. Burns, according to court documents.

Arresting officers originally sought additional offenses for Ortiz, including unlawful possession of explosive material; felony possession of a destructive device; possession of a deadly weapon by a felon; felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver; and misdemeanor offenses for manufacturing drug paraphernalia and possession of a legend drug.

Court documents offered no description of the explosive material or destructive device.

Ortiz was sentenced to 12-36 months in state prison on each of the Class IV felony offenses, to be served at the same time, and fined $100 for the drug paraphernalia infraction. He was already on probation at the time of his arrest and was sentenced to an additional 12-36 months in state prison, to be served consecutively, stemming from his probation violations.

Ortiz was one of four offenders arrested in 2012 after pillaging a rural farmhouse southwest of Indianola. He was subsequently convicted of a Class IV felony offense for possession of methamphetamine and sentenced to 24 months probation as a result.