Table Rock man granted probation, in theft investigation at abandoned building
Edward Findlay and co-defendant alleged to be taking things from river building at Blue Springs
By News Channel Nebraska
BEATRICE – A 65-year-old Table Rock man will serve probation for attempted possession of burglar tools, after a judge didn’t take kindly to the way the defendant described the violation.
Edward Findlay was sentenced Thursday to an 18-month probation term, after telling the judge…"Well, this has turned out to be a very expensive fishing trip."
Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner saw it another way.
"Your co-defendant said that you and he drove to that location for the purpose of stealing the metal fire escape.....so go blow smoke someplace else."
A co-defendant, John Gruhn had his entry of plea and sentencing hearing on Thursday rescheduled for June 30th. Judge Schreiner said Findlay’s description of being involved in farming and recycling doesn’t accurately depict what’s been going on.
"The problem is it looks to me like you recycle other people's stuff that they're not ready to get rid of. You can shake your head all you want, but those are the facts."
The judge noted Findlay had a 2005 Richardson County theft case and a criminal trespass case from Brown County, Kansas. There is a pending criminal trespass case in Pawnee County.
Gage County law officers arrested Findlay and Gruhn July 17th of last year, after investigating a witness report of a suspicious person at an abandoned brick tower building along the Big Blue River at Blue Springs. In addition to arresting the men, sheriff’s officers recovered a cooler containing sockets and wrenches, a concrete saw, battery-powered drill and an extension ladder used by the men to reach the second floor of the building. A search of a truck nearby revealed battery-powered tools, grinding wheels and files.
Investigators said the men told them they planned to steal fire escape stairs on the side of the building and a brass plate.
In a separate case,....
39-year-old Jeremiah Tart will serve a two-year state prison term, followed by one year of post-release supervision for attempted possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person. The weapon involved in the case was brass knuckles. Tart was found in possession of the brass knuckles when he went through a screening station at the Gage County Courthouse.
Tart was arrested May 13th of 2021 after the brass knuckles tied to his waist, under his shirt…activated the metal detector at the courthouse screening station. His past domestic violence crimes barred him from possession of weapons.