Local Court News, (Central Nebraska Today)
KEARNEY — A Kearney man facing two felonies after he discharged a stolen firearm within city limits and was found in possession of stolen items belonging to Buffalo County employees pleaded no contest to amended charges.
Anthony Adams, 28, had been charged with discharging a firearm near vehicle, building, Class 1C felony; possess or receive stolen firearm, Class 2A felony, criminal mischief – $1,500-4,999, Class 1 misdemeanor; discharge firearm in city limits, infraction, theft by unlawful taking – $0-500 and obstruct a peace officer, Class 1 misdemeanor.
In exchange for his plea of no contest, the first count was amended to attempt of a Class 1 felony, a Class 2 felony, the criminal mischief and discharge of firearm in city limits were dismissed by the court.
A no contest plea is neither an admission nor denial of guilt, but the plea is treated the same as a guilty plea.
A sentencing hearing in the case has been set for Jan. 2 at 10 a.m.
According to an affidavit submitted into court records, officers with the Kearney Police Department responded to a shots-fired call from the 100 block of E. 15th St.
Officers later located a man, later identified as Adams, wearing a black backpack and carrying a black bag in the 100 block of E. 8th St. After being given commands to stop, Adams dropped the back bag and ran northbound, while one of the officers gave pursuit.
A Taser was deployed, and Adams was handcuffed and later agreed to speak with the officers after he was read his Miranda Rights.
According to the officers, Adams admitted to taking the backpack, but denied knowing where the black bag came from, saying that it was not his. Adams also reported taking the backpack but did not enter any vehicles in the area that evening, per the affidavit.
Officers searched the contents of the black bag and found several items belonging to other people, including cash, medications, a state identification card and official documents that did not belong to Adams.
Items in the backpack included cash gift cards, chargers, vapes, a fishing pole and miscellaneous medications.
During the investigation it was determined that the items belonged to Buffalo County employees who were contacted that reported the items stolen from their vehicles that had been parked at the Buffalo County Jail.
Video surveillance from the jail parking lot showed Adams entering the employee’s vehicles and removing the items, as well as attempting to enter a marked Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office cruiser.
