FAIRBURY, NE — A southeast Nebraska man convicted of killing a two-year-old and shooting another man will be sentenced on Thursday.

A jury convicted 19-year-old Jake Gonzalez of Fairbury of child abuse resulting in death and terroristic threats in October. As part of a deal in a separate case, he pleaded no contest to first-degree assault.

He faces a maximum of life in prison and a minimum of 20 years on the child abuse resulting in death charge. First-degree assault carries a maximum of 50 years in prison and a minimum of one year. 

The two convictions from trial date back to February, 2021, when Gonzalez was accused of fatally injuring two-year-old Hollen Siedschlag and threatening the child’s mother. The assault charge dates back to an incident from May, 2020, when Gonzalez was accused of shooting Lance Powers multiple times in Fairbury. Powers survived but required a medical helicopter flight to Lincoln to care for his wounds.

The sentencings will be some of the final actions taken by Jefferson County District Judge Vicky Johnson. She is retiring at the end of the month.