FAIRBURY - A plea deal was reached in a longstanding weapon possession case and in a sexual assault case, while a plea deal can't yet be discussed in a minor enticement case. Meanwhile, three other people received their sentences in Judge David Bargen's Jefferson County District Court on Thursday. 

The following is a recap of some of the most notable rulings. 

State v. Cameron May

A Fairbury man was set to face trial last week for felony possession of a firearm before he agreed to consider a plea deal the day before the trial was set to begin. Now, he's been found guilty of a lesser charge but still could face significant jail time.

Convicted of two separate violent felonies in the 1990s in California, Cameron May was caught in possession of at least a half dozen guns in November 2023 in Fairbury, another felony.

The state agreed to change the gun possession charge to a knife possession charge, a lesser crime, in exchange for May's no contest plea in Jefferson County District Court Thursday, a plea that was entered after a lengthy and heated discussion between the defendant and his attorney, Dustin Garrison, delayed the start of the hearing. Three of May's firearms will be seized by the police, and May must identify a person who can possess the other guns legally to take ownership of them.

May has argued that charge is a violation of his second amendment rights, and had been set for a trial on three different dates this year before he ultimately agreed to this plea deal this month. In his request for the case to be dismissed, May has referenced other cases from various levels of courts across the country that he says have loosened the standard and established a precedent for a person with previous felony convictions to possess firearms, and thus, the charge against him was unconstitutional as applied to him, not unconstitutional on its face.

County attorney Joe Casson told NCN that was the best way for this case to most quickly reach some degree of finality, not get further tied up in appeals courts, and limit the waste of judicial resources. The type of felonies (in this case, two violent crimes) and the date of their occurrence (in this case, more than 30 years ago) can impact cases like this one, but Casson said there's no precedent for people with violent felonies to be allowed to own or possess firearms, which erases the argument of constitutionality.

Further, Casson said, there are no codified rights to bear knives: May was found in possession of a switchblade, which would have been permissible if he possessed a valid hunting license, for example - but without that, it's still a felony for a convicted felon to possess a knife, albeit one that carries a lesser charge than possession of a firearm.

May was found guilty Thursday and could face up to four years in either jail or prison - or no jail time at all - when he is sentenced on November 16. The length and severity of his sentence could depend on whether he displays a sense of responsibility for the charges he faces, including separate cases in county court within the last year.

State v. Robert Jones

Jones was found guilty of a attempted possession of a weapon and attempting to avoid arrest. Two other charges had previously been dropped. Defense attorney Scott Gropp said Jones has a fairly extensive criminal history stretching back to at least 2005, which is why the defense acknowledged their request for probation might not be granted. Jones acknowledged that history himself, saying he has been working to change his ways over the last few years. 

Bargen came to the same conclusion as Gropp, and found Jones not fit for probation because he has "not led a law-abiding life." "I want you to take this time to think about how you can improve," Bargen said in his address to Jones. 

Jones was sentenced to a concurrent sentence of two years of correctional services. With credit for the 315 days he's already served, he could be eligible for release in approximately seven months.

State v. Tacy Hayes

Hayes had previously been found guilty of attempted possession of a controlled substance, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Defense attorney Gregory Kratz requested a straight sentence for his already-incarcerated client, saying that Hayes has no real ties to the Jefferson County area and were she to be released she would have an in with the Oxford House in Lincoln, a shared living space for those recovering from addictions. 

Bargen's thinking fell along the same lines. Hayes was not awarded probation and was issued a straight sentence of 103 days in jail, with credit for the 103 days she's already served for this case, meaning she was immediately eligible for release with time served. Kratz suggested Hayes would be traveling to the Oxford House today. 

State v. Cynthia Rice

Rice was previously found guilty of possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. Kratz outlined that the state and the probation office had recommended Rice be sentenced to a term of probation. She had successfully completed a probation program in the past before suffering a relapse, which Kratz attributed to "the circumstances of who she was around."

Bargen saw things differently, however, and determined Rice was not a fit candidate for probation this time around as she has "not led a law-abiding life." She was sentenced to up to 1.5 years under correctional services, and could be released in approximately nine months. A demonstrably upset Rice was escorted away by law enforcement to begin her sentence.

State v. Donald Boomgaarn Jr.

The Fairbury man who was arrested last year for attempting to solicit a minor online will not face trial but will instead face a specific psychological test before the case can be resolved.

Donald Boomgaarn Jr. was scheduled for a trial later this year in his minor enticement case, but at Thursday's plea hearing, defense attorney Scott Gropp revealed that all parties were prepared to negotiate a plea deal, but Boomgaarn must first undergo a "psychosexual evaluation" which will give the court further insight into his mental state and other proclivities.

His first consultation is scheduled for September, so Judge Bargen agreed to postpone a potential plea hearing until November to allow the defendant to complete the testing.

State v. Lynn Vieselmeyer-Scheets

Vieselmeyer-Scheets was accused of committing first-degree sexual assault on Halloween 2024, where he “subjected another person to sexual penetration without consent,” according to court filings, and accepted a plea deal with a reduced charge this week.

The charge was amended to 3rd Degree Assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Vieselmeyer-Scheets pleaded no contest and was found guilty. He now faces up to a year of jail time at his sentencing in September; he has already accumulated some credit for time served for a separate crime which he is presently incarcerated for.