The Sidney Sun-Telegraph - Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper

On Friday, May 10, four people were arrested on charges related to the seizure of 12 pounds of methamphetamine.

On Thursday, May 30, the four again appeared before Hon. Judge Randin R. Roland for status hearings. The status hearings were scheduled to see if the four – Francisco Herrera, 35 of Sterling, Ashley Whited, 30 of Sterling, Rene Basaldua, 41, of Sterling, and Jared Schaefer, 26 of Sterling – would waive a preliminary trial.

Basaldua is scheduled for a 10 a.m. Hearing on July 1 in Cheyenne County District Court. Schaefer is scheduled to appear in Cheyenne County District Court at 9 a.m. Friday, July 5.

Whited appeared in court, waiving her right to a preliminary hearing. Her attorney, Mike Samuelson of Ogalalla, asked to review her bond. At the time of the status hearing, she was being held on a $250,000 bond; 10 percent cash.

Samuelson said she has local ties, implying she is not a flight risk.

“She was residing in Sidney at the time the incident occurred,” he said.

He added she was working in Sidney and has family in Sidney.

Judge Roland reduced her bond to $150,000 or 10 percent cash ($15,000).

Herrera is scheduled to appear before the Hon. Judge Weimer at 8:30 a.m. On June 11.

The four were arrested May 10 following a combined effort by local law enforcement. The 12 pounds of confiscated and field-tested meth is is valued at about $500,000, according to court records. In addition to charges resulting from the meth confiscated in Sidney, Schaefer also has an outstanding warrant from Logan County, Colo., for armed robbery. Basaldua is also wanted in Logan County on a felony warrant for dangerous drugs charges.