Bond set at $100,000 for Sidney man accused of thefts

Nathan Pohl, 29, was arraigned Wednesday on one count of burglary, a class three felony, one count of escape, a class four felony and possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person, a class three felony as well. Pohl entered a plea of not guilty.

Both class three felonies carry a maximum of a 20 year sentence and up to a $25,000 fine. The escape charge comes with a maximum of five years imprisonment and up to a $10,000 fine.

Pohl could also be responsible for restitution for items taken in the burglary charge if found guilty.

The charges against Pohl are related to multiple area burglaries and an escape from the police department last month. Pohl was initially arrested in February when law enforcement reportedly found him trespassing at the Hillside Golf Course mower shed. Upon his arrest, police allegedly found several items which belonged in the mower shed inside his vehicle.

Later that day, Pohl reportedly escaped the police department for a short period of time but was later located, when an employee at Points West Bank on Glover Rd. reported that there was a man she didn’t know in the back seat of her car. On suspicion that Pohl was involved in other recent burglaries, police executed a search warrant on his current residence and allegedly found items stolen from the city street department building in a December break-in.

Pohl is currently held in Cheyenne County jail on $100,000 bond. Pohl’s attorney, Steve Elmshaeuser pointed out that with the amount set so high, Pohl would never be able to bond out of jail and asked for a reduction. Pohl lives in Sidney, and if allowed out on bond, he wouldn’t leave the area without permission, the attorney added.

“$100,000 bond is completely out of reach,” Elmshaeuser said.

Although his client was charged with possession of a deadly weapon, Elmshaeuser told the court that Pohl was simply in possession of a box cutter knife, the type which one might use when working to stock shelves.

“These were non-violent, non-confrontational,” Elmshaeuser said.

Deputy Cheyenne County attorney Jonathon Stellar, representing the prosecution, acknowledged that Pohl’s criminal history wasn’t the longest he’d ever seen.

“It’s not short by any means,” Stellar added.

The prosecution told the court that the bond amount was proper.

“The state is opposed to any reduction in bond,” Stellar said, explaining that Pohl is considered a flight risk.

The court decided not to reduce bond and set a trial for April 15 and 16.

In the break in at the city street department building on Dec. 9., a flatbed pickup truck was stolen. Other items taken from the building included hand and power tools, laptop computers and a portable welder. The stolen truck was found on the afternoon of Dec. 9 in a pasture north of town. It had been partially hidden with hay bales.