Woman who allegedly pulled knife on officer is arraigned

A woman who allegedly pulled a knife on a Sidney Police officer last month was arraigned in Cheyenne County District Court on Wednesday morning.

District Court Judge Derek Weimer told Barbara Nettles she was being arraigned on a single charge of assault in the third degree, a class one misdemeanor. If convicted, the maximum penalty is 1 year in prison and a potential fine of $1,000.

Michael Samuelson had earlier been appointed by the court to defend Nettles; Weimer ordered a continuance of the appointment on Wednesday.

Samuelson requested the next hearing in the case be set for one month from now. He also asked for a motion of statutory discovery and that Nettles’ bond remain unchanged.

Weimer consented to the requests and scheduled the next hearing in the case for May 6 at 9:30 a.m. at the Cheyenne County Court House.

Nettles was arrested March 6 in the north part of Sidney after threatening a police officer with a large kitchen knife. He subsequently deployed a Taser to subdue her.

After the incident, Sidney Police Department Assistant Chief Joe Aikens said the disturbance occurred after an officer had been requested to stand by at Nettles’ residence while an adult protective services representative checked on her.

There were no injuries due to the scuffle, Aikens said.

In other court cases Wednesday:

Possible plea agreement in Misty Beutler case

Lawyer Justin Huber, defending Misty Beutler who is charged with witness tampering and terroristic threats, told the court a plea agreement was reached between his client and the county attorney’s office the previous day.

He requested a month to review the document.

Weimer accepted his request, and set April 15 at 4 p.m. at Beutler’s next court date.

He also advised Beutler to carefully review the agreement to make sure she understands what it contains.

There are a lot of reasons to closely study the document, he said, especially because he will be asking her if she has done so the next time she is in court.

Beutler was charged with the two felonies in January after an alleged incident outside the Cheyenne County Court House.

According to court documents, she shouted death threats at a witness in a separate case.

Beutler allegedly said, “You’re dead” and “Dead” to a cooperating witness is a marijuana case involving Floyd Kettle.

Beutler was with Kettle’s wife, Christy Kettle, at the time of the alleged incident.

She was immediately arrested by the officer escorting the witness.

Tony Christensen’s bond reduced

The bond for Tony Christensen, accused on two counts of first degree forgery, was reduced on Wednesday.

Lawyer Donald Miller, representing Christensen, asked that his bond be lowered from $100,000 to $25,000.

While he added he was unsure if Christensen would be able to produce the 10 percent of the bond required to be released from jail, Miller said his client has obligations with his young children in Colorado. He also noted that Christensen was not charged with a violent crime.

Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub said his concerns regarding the accused had not changed and he asked that the bond amount remain unchanged.

After pausing to consider the request, Weimer said he would lower the bond, but with a list of conditions.

If Christensen fails to show up for a court appearance or scheduled meeting, his bond will be revoked and his cash forfeited.

Additionally, the defendant is required to sign a waiver of extradition, abide by all prior conditions set by other courts, check in with the Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office twice a week by phone and once a week in person and submit to drug tests.

With a stern warning, Weimer said any violation of the terms would be met with a swift revocation.

When asked if her understood, Christensen replied, “Yes, sir.”

Christensen was arrested in late January for allegedly passing counterfeit money at several Sidney businesses.