Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper

Two cases against Martinez consolidated

Two criminal cases involving a 50-year-old Logmont, Colo., man were combined at a Wednesday hearing in Cheyenne County District Court.

In one case, Martinez is charged with violation of visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct, a class 1D felony. In the second case, he is charged with enticement by electronic communication device, a class 4 felony.

In a motion submitted May 7 requesting the consolidation, the prosecution argued Martinez is alleged to have participated in the same act or transaction constituting the offenses charged in each case.

“The same witnesses, evidence and testimony would be offered in each matter; the defendant has no constitutional right to separate trials; and joinder of these cases for trial would save the time and expense of separate trials and permit judicial efficiency,” the document continued.

District Court Judge Derek Weimer granted the motion on Wednesday.

Martinez has pleaded not guilty to both charges and is represented by court-appointed counsel Michael Snyder.

Documents relating to Martinez’s arrest have been sealed by the court. At a hearing in March, Snyder said his client had been in custody since January.

Martinez is next scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at 9:30 a.m.

September trial date

set for Thurow

A September trial date was set for Robert Thurow Jr. in Cheyenne County District Court on Wednesday. The trial is scheduled for Sept. 23-24, following a pre-trial hearing on Sept. 8, at 9:30 a.m.

Thurow, 49, of Sidney, is charged with a single count of sexual assault of a child in the third degree. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge and is represented by court-appointed counsel Steven Elmshaeuser.

The arrest of Thurow followed an investigation that began nearly a year ago.

According to a probable cause affidavit, health care workers found possible evidence of sexual assault during a medical exam of a young girl in June 2014 and called law enforcement. During an interview, the girl told an investigator Thurow “touches me down there lots,” according to police.

Thurow denied the charge in an interview with police last summer and offered to take a polygraph test, the probable cause affidavit states.

Continuance issued

in Pennington case

Mylissa Pennington appeared in Cheyenne County District Court on Wednesday.

Pennington, 19, of Lodgepole, is charged with cultivating marijuana and illegal mushrooms, possession with attempt to deliver marijuana and illegal mushrooms, placing a false bomb and possession of drug money.

Her case was transferred into district court last month, and she has entered not guilty pleas to all charges.

At a status hearing on Wednesday, Elmshaeuser – her court-appointed counsel – requested a continuance.

Weimer scheduled the next hearing for Aug. 11 at 10 a.m.

Pennington was arrested along with Dillon Grabowski, 22, of Potter, on May 21 after law enforcement officers served a search warrant at a residence in Lodgepole.

According to a probable cause affidavit, four marijuana plants and about 3 ounces of dried cannabis, in addition to a mushroom grow and 31 grams of dried mushrooms, were seized from house. Digital scales and baggies – and $10,000 in a safe – were also discovered.

During the search, law enforcement officers discovered an item they initially considered to be a destructive device.

The item, a firework-type fuse folded in half and wrapped in electrical tape, was later determined to be a hoax device, according to testimony last month in County Court.

 
 

Reader Comments(1)

guest01 writes:

Geez! This area sure seems to have a lot of crime of this kind. Is it higher than the norm? Makes me wonder if we shouldn't bring back public hanging in the town square.