Cody Holum, (Carol Bryant, Central Nebraska Today)
The attorney for a 17-year-old Doniphan male facing numerous felony charges including human trafficking, first-degree sexual assault, and human trafficking filed a motion Jan. 31 in Hall County District Court to transfer his case to juvenile court.
Deputy Public Defender Vicky Kenney represents Cody C. Holum, 17, of Doniphan. Holum turns 18 on March 9, according to court records. He is being held in the Hall County Jail. A hearing on the matter will occur at 9 a.m. Feb. 7 in Hall County District Court before District Judge Andrew Butler. Holum pleaded not guilty to the charges he faces on Jan. 30.
In her motion, Kenney wrote that the Nebraska Juvenile Code attempts to “remove juveniles who are within the Nebraska Juvenile Code from the adult system whenever possible.”
She also wrote, “The Nebraska Legislature has acknowledged that the responsibility of the Juvenile Court is to act to preserve the public peace and security.” She notes that Holum was between the ages of 14 and 17 at the time of the alleged offenses.
Kenney wrote that Nebraska statute “requires a transfer of this case to the Juvenile Court of Hall County, Nebraska, unless a sound basis exists for retention of jurisdiction by this Court.”
Hall County Attorney Marty Klein is prosecuting the case. He said earlier this week that he opposes having Holum’s case transferred to juvenile court. Klein noted that Holum would be under the supervision of juvenile court until he turns 19.
Holum originally faced 48 misdemeanor and felony charges for sex-related offenses. Kenney filed a motion to quash (set aside) some of those charges, and Butler approved the motion earlier this week.
Klein has filed a fourth amended complaint listing charges against Holum. They are either Class I or Class II felonies. Thirty-one charges against Holum were dismissed as a result of the motion to quash.
Holum is still charged with 10 counts of human trafficking of a minor (Class IB Felony), four counts of first-degree sexual assault (Class II Felony), and three counts of human trafficking (Class II Felony).
Klein said earlier this week that no one other than Holum is involved in the human trafficking charges.
