FAIRBURY, NE — A former sheriff’s deputy is heading to trial over an accusation that he failed to serve a warrant.

Wilbur Young, 59, of Fairbury is charged with neglect or delay to serve a felony arrest warrant in late 2020. He was a Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputy at the time and, according to court documents, was tasked with serving the warrant against Jerry Barnes between October 27-November 26 for a violation of felony probation.

Jefferson County Sheriff Nick Georgi says his office started an internal investigation once staff received a complaint in August, 2021. The investigation was turned over to the Nebraska State Patrol and the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office because Young was a county employee. The formal charge was filed against Young on November 3, 2021, about a year after the alleged offense.

Young was placed on paid leave during the course of the investigation and was fired in October. Georgi says he didn’t issue a news release about the dismissal because outside agencies conducted the investigation.

The alleged failure to to serve the warrant happened when Nels Sorensen was still in charge of the sheriff’s office. Matthew Schultz took over in January 2021 after Sorensen’s retirement, but abruptly resigned four months later. Young was among four in-house candidates to apply for the open sheriff position in May, but the Jefferson County Commissioners picked Georgi over him.

The Attorney General’s Office declined to comment on the case and court documents don’t reveal details about the accusation.

Barnes was serving 18 months probation after pleading guilty to a drug possession charge. Jefferson County District Court Judge Vicky Johnson issued a warrant for his arrest on October 27, 2020, after he failed to show up to serve three days in jail for failing alcohol/drug tests. A probation officer followed up on November 20th to request an additional warrant and reported the active warrant had not been served. A new warrant was issued in January 2021 and Barnes was jailed in February.

A jury trial for Young was originally set for January 31 in Jefferson County Court. It was continued to April 4 in part because the parties are discussing possible settlement offers.