Kelli Lepler, (Hall County Department of Corrections, Courtesy)
GRAND ISLAND — Hall County District Judge Andrew Butler continued a change of venue request to 1:30 p.m. April 23 for a Grand Island woman accused of taking money for gravestones but not providing the gravestones.
Kelli Lepler, 46, of Grand Island appeared in Hall County District Court Monday, April 15, with her attorney, Public Defender Jerry Piccolo. Deputy Hall County Attorney Matthew Boyle is the prosecuting attorney. Lepler is charged with 38 felony counts of theft by deception and 8 misdemeanor theft by deception charges. Butler mentioned that the cost to move the trial to another location is a consideration.
The owner of a Grand Island cemetery headstone business, Monument Advisors, is accused of receiving $258,404 from 43 customers “and has yet to take any steps at fulfilling their orders,” according to a July 3, 2023, arrest warrant affidavit.
Butler has suggested sending a questionnaire to 300 Hall County residents to find out if a possible jury pool is available. Depending on the results from the questionnaire, Butler could then determine whether a change of venue is needed. Butler asked both attorneys to submit questions to put on the questionnaire. Boyle estimated that a trial would last two weeks.
The Hall County Public Defender’s Office gave Butler an affidavit describing sites where publicity about the case has occurred, including social media sites such as Facebook.
Piccolo also asked that Lepler be released on her own recognizance. He noted that most of her family, including her parents and sister, live in Grand Island. Butler denied the request. Boyle said Lepler’s bond is set at $100,000.
After Monday’s hearing, Boyle said, “I likely can’t oppose a change of venue. I think it will be difficult to find a jury in the county.”
In Monday’s arguments, Piccolo referred to a court case that had eight criteria concerning change of venue. He did not list what the criteria are.
“I don’t think we can pick a jury,” Piccolo said.
He noted that publicity about the case from sites such as Facebook and the Grand Island Independent “is extremely prejudicial.”
The judge asked how it was known whether the Facebook users lived in Hall County, which is the location from which jurors would be picked.
The judge also asked Piccolo to suggest options where the trial could occur.
According to the arrest warrant affidavit for the case, since April 4, 2023, “the Grand Island Police Department has received an additional 68 reports. All 68 of those reports are very similar in the fact that the victims had paid Kelli Lepler money up front for a monument or monument services.”
The purchases were made between Jan. 8, 2020, and Feb. 9, 2023.
