Deshler man sentenced for meth conviction following armed dispute at bar

LINCOLN, Neb. -- A 61-year-old southeast Nebraska man will spend several years behind bars for a meth-related conviction following an armed dispute at a bar.

Acting U.S. Attorney Steven Russell announced Friday that Robert D. Dankemeyer, of Deshler, was sentenced to a total of 210 months in prison following his federal conviction for possession of 50 grams or more of actual methamphetamine with the intent to distribute. Dankemeyer pleaded guilty on May 24. After he completes his prison sentence, Dankemeyer will also serve five years on supervised release. There is no parole in the federal system.

On the evening of June 22, 2020, deputies with the Thayer County Sheriff’s Department responded to reports of an armed person threatening patrons at the Fourth Street Tavern in Deshler. After interviewing witnesses, they learned that Dankemeyer had gotten into an argument with some customers in the bar. He left the bar and then returned a short time later carrying firearms, including a revolver with a scope attached. He pointed a gun at a couple of people outside the bar, and then left as the sound of sirens could be heard approaching. Later that evening, Dankemeyer was located at a gas station in Hebron and arrested.

Deputies with the Thayer County Sheriff’s Department obtained a search warrant for Dankemeyer’s residence in Deshler. Inside the home they located a small amount of methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, several pellet and BB guns, a few large Bowie knives, and body armor. A Ford Taurus was parked at the house. Inside the trunk of the Taurus, the deputies located several firearms, about a pound of methamphetamine, about 9 sticks of dynamite, blasting caps, fuse igniters, and body armor. Once the deputies encountered the dynamite, they had to pause the search and they obtained assistance from the Nebraska State Patrol’s Hazardous Devices team.