Hearings ahead this month as court cases move along

    Four Chase County Court cases moved along in the legal process in recent weeks.
    Court documents show updates on the following cases: State vs. Tristan J. Ferguson, State vs. Keith D. Cranwell, State vs. Jose A. Garcia-Porras and State vs. Boone J. Huff.
    A first appearance hearing was held for Ferguson Feb. 22 in Chase County Court, when he was advised of the two charges against him—manslaughter, a class 2A felony, and possession of a firearm while committing a felony, a class 2 felony.
    Appearing before County Judge Edward Steenburg last week, Ferguson was informed a preliminary hearing will be held for his case on Wednesday, March 22, at 1:30 p.m. when both sides can present evidence.
    Ferguson’s charges stem from the November shooting death of Jesse Krausnick in Imperial at a home at 126 West 12th St. in Imperial. He was taken into custody by Imperial police on Nov. 25, and bonded out later that day.
    Judge Steenburg continued Ferguson’s $100,000 bond. Last month, Ryan Wilcox of McCook was named Ferguson’s court-appointed counsel.
Other cases
    A pretrial hearing was scheduled Feb. 22 for Keith D. Cranwell of Champion, who is charged with Willful Reckless Driving, a misdemeanor, and Failure to Yield, an infraction, following a CCS bus accident last September.
    On Feb. 21, Cranwell’s attorney Terrance O. Waite of North Platte, asked for a continuance to March 22 “for submission of an anticipated plea.”
    Judge Steenburg and County Attorney Joel Burke agreed. Cranwell’s pretrial hearing will now be March 22 at 1:30 p.m. in Chase County Court.
    Also on Feb. 22, Jose A. Garcia-Porras learned there was probable cause for his continued detention following his arrest in December after a stabbing incident in Imperial in the city office parking lot.
    Garcia-Porras’ $250,000 bond was continued and he remains in the Chase County Jail charged with five felonies—two counts of 1st degree assault, two counts of use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and possession of a deadly weapon by a prohibited person.
    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement also has a detainer on Garcia-Porras that would keep him behind bars if he was able to post 10% of his bond.
    Wilcox of McCook was appointed his attorney.
    Police Sgt. Chad Ostmeyer and Officer Chris Bustillos were called by the state as witnesses at Garcia-Porras’ hearing.
    Huff, charged with felony burglary and four misdemeanors related to an alleged break-in at Bomgaars in late December, appeared at a hearing Feb. 22 via telephone.
    Huff was arrested Dec. 27 after being found indoors at Bomgaars in Imperial. In his affidavit, Police Chief Ryan Wisnieski said when he arrived at 4:25 a.m. that morning,  the store’s door was broken and Huff was found inside carrying some merchandise.
    Judge Steenburg set a preliminary hearing for March 22 at 11 a.m. after finding there was probable cause to continue Huff’s detention.
    Huff remains jailed in North Platte in the Lincoln County Jail. His $25,000 bond was continued. Leslie Nordhausen is Huff’s court-appointed attorney.