Probation, jail term given in 2022 Beatrice home burglary case

BEATRICE – Probation and a jail term is the sentence for a Beatrice man for misdemeanor trespassing, theft and possession of a controlled substance.
33-year-old William Wilson was arrested and charged following a home burglary. The state sought a prison term in the case.

Defense attorney Dustin Garrison said things have changed since his client was expelled from the Southeast Nebraska Drug Court program.
"He's married....I would like to think he's become a more responsible person. And, I would like to think that in light of his marriage, he has a much stronger support system. Now, there is the present charge, that might suggest that is not accurate."

The judge noted that Wilson’s wife was a co-defendant in the case that resulted in the charges against him.  "You're here on a theft. You stole from your grandmother? You broke into her house and stole from your grandmother while she was suffering from cancer. The family was trying to take care of her. And, when you were confronted with the money at the grocery store while you and your wife were cashing it in...you got mad at them. So, not only do you disrespect the laws of the state of Nebraska....but you disrespect your family."

Schreiner said Wilson failed to show up for a pre-sentence investigation and was jailed to complete that process.

Wilson was given a 202-day Gage County Jail Term and fined $500 on the trespassing count….and received a total of 36 months on probation for the drug possession and theft counts….which will start after he’s released from jail.  Wilson could be eligible for release in 90 days.

In January of 2022, Beatrice Police were called to an east Beatrice grocery store on a disturbance involving customers at a coin machine. Police learned Wilson and his wife were suspects earlier in the day, where $726 in coins were taken from his grandparents’ home. Wilson was also found to be in possession of a container holding 45 Alprazolam pills, for which he could not provide proof of a prescription.

In a separate sentencing hearing Thursday, a 34-year-old Beatrice man has been given a two-year probation term for negligent child abuse, third-degree domestic assault and carrying a concealed weapon.

Luke Vater was sentenced by Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner, Thursday. Vater had initially faced felony charges of terroristic threats and possession of a deadly weapon during commission of a felony.

"I understand emotions and getting emotionally involved in situations. And, oftentimes, those things just build up. I don't know that people generally start out when their upset....at rage. But, I think it builds up over time...and if it doesn't get addressed appropriately, then it is rage. And, the next thing you know, you've got a machete in the middle of an argument."

The case involved some uncertainty and disagreement about terms of a plea agreement between Deputy County Attorney Jacob Meyer and Defense Attorney, Dustin Garrison.  Judge Schreiner admonished both attorneys after reviewing what the plea agreement said, and the court’s prior refusal to accept certain terms of the agreement as “unjust”…because of the defendant having to enter a plea without full opportunity to review the evidence against him.

"I'm well aware of the difficulties you've had with Mr. Meyer...and that Mr. Meyer has had with you, for months, and months, and months. And, I'm well aware of how tired the bench has become in this county.....so don't bother me with it. Do your jobs."

The judge said Vater did not have a significant past criminal record, but said this case was on the verge of becoming violent.

Vater was arrested last July when police responded to a disturbance involving a man wielding a machete, threatening to kill people. When contacted in an apartment, police recovered a machete from underneath a bed.  A female victim told police Vater had been waiving around the machete and making threats. The victim said she armed herself with a baseball bat to defend herself.