BEATRICE – A Wymore man has been sent to state prison, resolving four pending criminal cases against him.  Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner Thursday sentenced 51-year-old James Bender to a total of seven years in prison, revoking his driver’s license for a 15-year period.


"You have been given more chances than anybody before this court, since I took the bench...and you have thumbed your nose at this court, continually. I don't know what else to do, at this point. You're obviously not a candidate for probation."


Bender will also be required to serve 18 months of post-release supervision. He was convicted of delivery of a controlled substance, driving under the influence of drugs-third offense, charges of drug possession and driving under revocation. Bender was also fined $1,000 on the revocation charge. Prior probation terms given to Bender were revoked by the judge, on Thursday.


In a separate case, the judge sentenced 29-year-old Tianne Alexander, of Auburn….who was arrested on a warrant after failing to appear in court. She was convicted of attempted drug possession in a case the judge said has been pending for a long time.


"This case started, in this court...in July of 2019....so, four years ago we've been messing with this. Probation has had zero success. Obviously, she wouldn't, couldn't, didn't meet with them to complete the presentence investigation. The court has no good faith basis to believe that she would show up for probation."


Schreiner said prior bonds set for Alexander failed to guarantee her appearance in court or to complete a presentence investigation. Alexander was sentenced to a 180-day Gage County Jail term, and ordered to pay court costs of $461.


Also in district court Thursday, 41-year-old Amber Deras, of Geneva was sentenced to a 50-day Gage County Jail term for a misdemeanor charge of carrying a concealed weapon.