A former Nebraska Corrections officer could face up to 20 years n prison for allegedly having images of naked children on his phone, said Lancaster County investigators.
An arrest warrant was issued for 27-year-old Samuel Martinez Jr.
Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Joe Kelly said investigators found the images on Martinez's Blackberry.
The images allegedly showed children as young as a year old, according to an arrest warrant.
The warrant detailed other findings, including photos of a young girl wearing a dog collar and another girl with hands bound by a rope.
Investigators said they don't believe Martinez took the photos himself.
"They were all disturbing and as young as 6 and 7 years old," Kelly said.
Martinez was an officer at the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln. He held the job for year and then resigned after being accused of sending explicit text messages to a 17-year-old girl. Kelly said the teen's mother reported the messages to police.
Martinez was charged with misdemeanors and paid $50. He was released and investigators kept his cell phone. They then found the images on the phone.
Martinez has yet to be arrested on the new felony charge. Kelly said investigators don't know his location.
If convicted of the child pornography charges, he could face up to 20 years in prison and a $25,000 fine.
He's scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 8 for the misdemeanor charges.
Showing posts with label Nebraska. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nebraska. Show all posts
Friday, January 29, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
Officer Sean Heyenga Arrested for Choking His Wife
Sean Heyenga waived his preliminary hearing Monday.
Police reports say a drunk Heyenga strangled his wife Nicole until she became unconscious. When she came to, she reportedly ran to neighbors to call 9-1-1. Reports also say he attacked her so fiercely he left marks on her neck.
The incident allegedly happened in December at their home near 63rd and Blondo. Court documents say Heyenga has been violent with her before, but she has been afraid to come forward and tell police because he's an officer.
Heyenga is on administrative leave with the Omaha Police Department.
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Information
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Officer David Dass Guilty of Online Enticement of Child
An Omaha police officer has been convicted of using the Internet to lure what he believed was a 14-year-old girl into having sex.
A Sarpy County jury found 25-year-old David Kass guilty of online enticement on Wednesday.
Kass was arrested at his Omaha home in July. La Vista police detectives said Kass initiated an online conversation with an undercover investigator posing as a 14-year-old girl. Detectives say the conversation was of a graphic, sexual nature.
Kass had argued that he thought he was talking to an adult during the explicit online chat.
Kass has been with the Omaha Police Department since 2006.
He is scheduled to be sentenced in March. Kass faces a maximum of 5 years in prison.
Information from: KETV-TV, http://www.ketv.com
A Sarpy County jury found 25-year-old David Kass guilty of online enticement on Wednesday.
Kass was arrested at his Omaha home in July. La Vista police detectives said Kass initiated an online conversation with an undercover investigator posing as a 14-year-old girl. Detectives say the conversation was of a graphic, sexual nature.
Kass had argued that he thought he was talking to an adult during the explicit online chat.
Kass has been with the Omaha Police Department since 2006.
He is scheduled to be sentenced in March. Kass faces a maximum of 5 years in prison.
Information from: KETV-TV, http://www.ketv.com
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Officer Sean Heyenga Accused of Trying to Strangle Wife
An Omaha police officer has been accused of trying to strangle his wife.
Sean Heyenga appeared in Douglas County Court on Friday on charges of domestic assault and making terroristic threats. He was ordered held on $20,000 bail.
He requested a public defender, but one hadn't been assigned to represent him as of Friday afternoon.
Prosecutors say Heyenga came home after drinking Thursday night and got into an argument with his wife. They say he then tried to strangle her, caused her to pass out and threatened to kill her.
Heyenga was sworn in as an officer in June 2008.
He has been placed on administrative leave pending a criminal and internal investigation.
A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 12.
Sean Heyenga appeared in Douglas County Court on Friday on charges of domestic assault and making terroristic threats. He was ordered held on $20,000 bail.
He requested a public defender, but one hadn't been assigned to represent him as of Friday afternoon.
Prosecutors say Heyenga came home after drinking Thursday night and got into an argument with his wife. They say he then tried to strangle her, caused her to pass out and threatened to kill her.
Heyenga was sworn in as an officer in June 2008.
He has been placed on administrative leave pending a criminal and internal investigation.
A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 12.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Officer Sean Heyenga Accused of Trying to Strangle His Wife
An Omaha police officer has been accused of trying to strangle his wife.
Sean Heyenga appeared in Douglas County Court on Friday on charges of domestic assault and making terroristic threats. He was ordered held on $20,000 bail.
He requested a public defender, but one hadn't been assigned to represent him as of Friday afternoon.
Prosecutors say Heyenga came home after drinking Thursday night and got into an argument with his wife. They say he then tried to strangle her, caused her to pass out and threatened to kill her.
Heyenga was sworn in as an officer in June 2008.
He has been placed on administrative leave pending a criminal and internal investigation.
A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 12.
Sean Heyenga appeared in Douglas County Court on Friday on charges of domestic assault and making terroristic threats. He was ordered held on $20,000 bail.
He requested a public defender, but one hadn't been assigned to represent him as of Friday afternoon.
Prosecutors say Heyenga came home after drinking Thursday night and got into an argument with his wife. They say he then tried to strangle her, caused her to pass out and threatened to kill her.
Heyenga was sworn in as an officer in June 2008.
He has been placed on administrative leave pending a criminal and internal investigation.
A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 12.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Corrections Officer Accuses Superiors of Sexual Harassment
OMAHA, Neb.
A former Dakota County corrections officer has sued the county, its sheriff and other superiors alleging they pressured female employees into sexual relationships and those who refused their advances were treated as outcasts.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Omaha last week on behalf of Toni Duncan, calls the work environment she chose to leave in 2007 a "cesspool" in which superiors misused their power for their own sexual gratification. It seeks unspecified damages.
Attorneys for the Sioux City, Iowa, woman say she's not the first and won't be the last to raise issues with the problems in the northeastern Nebraska county.
The county investigated related claims in 2007, but its findings were never made public, according to Duncan's lawsuit, which alleges a cover-up.
"This is a genuine mess. The more we get into it, the more messy it gets," said attorney Dewey Sloan, who along with Brian Buckmeier represents both Duncan and Williams.
An attorney for the county called Duncan's allegations mystifying and suspicious.
"I have no clue where these allegations are coming from," attorney Vince Valentino said Monday.
Sloan also represents Charvette Williams, another corrections officer who sued the county in June alleging unfair pay and harassment. The Sioux City woman alleged the hostile work environment left her feeling trapped in a sexual relationship with a chief deputy.
Sloan said he and Buckmeier are working to file several other lawsuits in coming weeks making similar claims.
Valentino said neither Duncan nor Williams took their sexual harassment allegations to the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission or its federal counterpart to investigate. He said that's always the first step for anyone serious about such claims.
Dewey said Williams did file a claim with the state commission, although it didn't address sexual harassment. It wasn't until later, when Williams became less fearful, that she felt willing to talk about the additional allegations.
In Duncan's case, she waited too long to take the claim to the state commission, Dewey said.
Duncan quit in November 2007, after a little over a year with the county, according to her lawsuit.
The Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission can investigate employment claims within 300 days of when the alleged harassment happened.
The report completed by a private law firm in 2007 was recently sealed by the Dakota County Board to protect people who offered confidential information, board Chairman Bill McLarty said.
McLarty said he never read the report and couldn't discuss its findings.
The report was shared with Attorney General Jon Bruning's office, which found that the allegations did not rise to the level of a criminal matter, according to a letter dated July 30, 2007.
A spokeswoman for Bruning couldn't immediately comment on the report or the attorney general's conclusions.
A former Dakota County corrections officer has sued the county, its sheriff and other superiors alleging they pressured female employees into sexual relationships and those who refused their advances were treated as outcasts.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Omaha last week on behalf of Toni Duncan, calls the work environment she chose to leave in 2007 a "cesspool" in which superiors misused their power for their own sexual gratification. It seeks unspecified damages.
Attorneys for the Sioux City, Iowa, woman say she's not the first and won't be the last to raise issues with the problems in the northeastern Nebraska county.
The county investigated related claims in 2007, but its findings were never made public, according to Duncan's lawsuit, which alleges a cover-up.
"This is a genuine mess. The more we get into it, the more messy it gets," said attorney Dewey Sloan, who along with Brian Buckmeier represents both Duncan and Williams.
An attorney for the county called Duncan's allegations mystifying and suspicious.
"I have no clue where these allegations are coming from," attorney Vince Valentino said Monday.
Sloan also represents Charvette Williams, another corrections officer who sued the county in June alleging unfair pay and harassment. The Sioux City woman alleged the hostile work environment left her feeling trapped in a sexual relationship with a chief deputy.
Sloan said he and Buckmeier are working to file several other lawsuits in coming weeks making similar claims.
Valentino said neither Duncan nor Williams took their sexual harassment allegations to the Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission or its federal counterpart to investigate. He said that's always the first step for anyone serious about such claims.
Dewey said Williams did file a claim with the state commission, although it didn't address sexual harassment. It wasn't until later, when Williams became less fearful, that she felt willing to talk about the additional allegations.
In Duncan's case, she waited too long to take the claim to the state commission, Dewey said.
Duncan quit in November 2007, after a little over a year with the county, according to her lawsuit.
The Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission can investigate employment claims within 300 days of when the alleged harassment happened.
The report completed by a private law firm in 2007 was recently sealed by the Dakota County Board to protect people who offered confidential information, board Chairman Bill McLarty said.
McLarty said he never read the report and couldn't discuss its findings.
The report was shared with Attorney General Jon Bruning's office, which found that the allegations did not rise to the level of a criminal matter, according to a letter dated July 30, 2007.
A spokeswoman for Bruning couldn't immediately comment on the report or the attorney general's conclusions.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Deputy Dana Harrah Arrested for Domestic Violence
A Sarpy County Sheriff’s deputy was arrested Sunday on suspicion of domestic abuse.
The deputy, Dana Harrah, has been with the sheriff’s office for nine years.
She was booked into Cass County Jail and released Monday morning after posting bail.
Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis said deputies from his office received a call about a possible domestic abuse situation Sunday. Upon arrival, deputies found out a sheriff’s office employee might be involved. Davis said Bellevue police, Papillion police and the Nebraska State Patrol were called to investigate.
Davis said in such situations, an employee is placed on paid administrative leave while the matter is investigated. An internal affairs investigation is underway, Davis said.
The deputy, Dana Harrah, has been with the sheriff’s office for nine years.
She was booked into Cass County Jail and released Monday morning after posting bail.
Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis said deputies from his office received a call about a possible domestic abuse situation Sunday. Upon arrival, deputies found out a sheriff’s office employee might be involved. Davis said Bellevue police, Papillion police and the Nebraska State Patrol were called to investigate.
Davis said in such situations, an employee is placed on paid administrative leave while the matter is investigated. An internal affairs investigation is underway, Davis said.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Officer David Kass Arrested for Trying to Lure 14-year-old
An Omaha police officer has been arrested and accused of using the Internet to lure what he thought was a 14-year-old girl.
Twenty-5-year-old David Kass was arrested at his Omaha home Wednesday on suspicion of online enticement.
La Vista detectives say on Tuesday Kass initiated an online conversation with an undercover investigator posing as a 14-year-old girl. Detectives say the conversation was of a graphic, sexual nature.
Kass has been placed on administrative leave. He has been with the department since 2006.
Online enticement carries a felony charge.
____________________________
Information from: KETV-TV, http://www.ketv.com
Twenty-5-year-old David Kass was arrested at his Omaha home Wednesday on suspicion of online enticement.
La Vista detectives say on Tuesday Kass initiated an online conversation with an undercover investigator posing as a 14-year-old girl. Detectives say the conversation was of a graphic, sexual nature.
Kass has been placed on administrative leave. He has been with the department since 2006.
Online enticement carries a felony charge.
____________________________
Information from: KETV-TV, http://www.ketv.com
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Corrections Officer Matthew Hagen Arrested for Chasing Deer with His Truck
A Nebraska corrections officer was arrested Thursday after being found chasing a deer in his pickup truck through a cornfield in an Omaha park.
Matthew Hagen, 25, was found shortly after midnight in his truck at the Chalco Hills Recreation area, according to the Sarpy County Sheriff's Department.
Police responded to a call reporting a pickup truck crashing into the park's security gate, and police were also told the truck had been seen chasing a deer in the cornfield, KPTM.com reported.
A 10-minute high-speed chase ensued after a Nebraska State Patrol trooper tried to stop Hagen's pickup, but he refused. He resisted, but was arrested after a brief struggle, KPTM.com reported.
Hagen was arrested on several charges including: attempting to assault an officer, resisting arrest, flight to avoid arrest felony, willful reckless driving, driving while intoxicated and criminal mischief over $1,500.
Matthew Hagen, 25, was found shortly after midnight in his truck at the Chalco Hills Recreation area, according to the Sarpy County Sheriff's Department.
Police responded to a call reporting a pickup truck crashing into the park's security gate, and police were also told the truck had been seen chasing a deer in the cornfield, KPTM.com reported.
A 10-minute high-speed chase ensued after a Nebraska State Patrol trooper tried to stop Hagen's pickup, but he refused. He resisted, but was arrested after a brief struggle, KPTM.com reported.
Hagen was arrested on several charges including: attempting to assault an officer, resisting arrest, flight to avoid arrest felony, willful reckless driving, driving while intoxicated and criminal mischief over $1,500.
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Sunday, March 22, 2009
Former Deputy LeRoy Svoboda Charged with Having Sex with Mentally Retarded Woman
A former Greeley County Sheriff's Deputy and police officer in Ord Nebraska is accused in court documents of having sex with a mentally retarded woman who later gave birth to his child.
LeRoy Svoboda was charged last week in Hall County with first-degree sexual assault, but details of the case were not released.
An affidavit filed in the case says the 67-year-old Svoboda had sex with the woman in his former residence in Ord. She gave birth to a daughter on Jan. 26, and DNA testing showed Svoboda was the father.
A psychologist says in court documents that the 28-year-old woman is vulnerable and cannot give her consent for sex.
If convicted, Svoboda faces up to 50 years in prison.
Svoboda had been in law enforcement for more than 35 years.
LeRoy Svoboda was charged last week in Hall County with first-degree sexual assault, but details of the case were not released.
An affidavit filed in the case says the 67-year-old Svoboda had sex with the woman in his former residence in Ord. She gave birth to a daughter on Jan. 26, and DNA testing showed Svoboda was the father.
A psychologist says in court documents that the 28-year-old woman is vulnerable and cannot give her consent for sex.
If convicted, Svoboda faces up to 50 years in prison.
Svoboda had been in law enforcement for more than 35 years.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Drunk Driving Deputy Allowed to Go Home Without Being Charged
The Nebraska State Patrol is conducting an internal investigation after one of its troopers is accused of showing preferential treatment to another law enforcement officer.
An off-duty Sarpy County sheriff's deputy was pulled over December 20th suspected of drunk driving. But the man in charge of the State Patrol, Col. Bryan Tuma, confirms the deputy was never given a sobriety test, never arrested and was allowed to get a ride home with a friend.
The allegations come amidst a DWI crackdown by the State Patrol, with a 37-percent increase in arrests last year by Omaha's Troop A alone. It was one of those troopers, Col. Tuma says, who let a suspected drunk driver go. “I believe he acknowledges that he made a mistake."
"The fact that (the party pulled over) was a law enforcement official may have had some bearing, may have had some influence on his decision of how he followed through."
"It's a double standard," says UNO Criminal Justice Professor Sam Walker, "because someones getting a break because he's a law enforcement officer."
The Nebraska State Patrol calls it an isolated incident.
Colonel Tuma says, "We know that there was alcohol involved and that officer allowed the person to be transported from the scene. Clearly out of context of what we normally do."
The stop happened after midnight on southbound Interstate 680 at Highway 75. One trooper noticed a car driving without headlights and pulled the driver over.
The trooper already had a suspect in custody from an earlier stop. “He radioed for assistance, another one of our troopers that was in the area came over and took over the traffic stop," says Col. Tuma.
That second, unnamed trooper approached the suspect’s vehicle. “There was an odor of alcohol in the vehicle. What's concerning is the trooper didn't follow through exactly the way we would prefer they follow through on one of those types of contacts."
"Instead of making an arrest or writing a citation or whatever was appropriate for that particular case, didn't occur and that's out of sync with our protocols."
For all we know -- the deputy who was off-duty and driving without headlights on may have been perfectly sober -- but without a test -- no one really knows.
The incident is disappointing says Mothers Against Drunk Driving Executive Director Simera Reynolds. "What we want to see is equitable treatment of all offenders. I think that this is a particular event that was unfortunate, but I don't think it's common practice."
Col. Tuma says his office was told about the situation immediately and the matter was turned over to Internal Affairs. However, the details of that investigation are not being disclosed.
"The officer will be disciplined here, appropriately, in the not-too-distant future," says Col. Tuma. He calls what happened “an error in judgment,” one which the trooper has admitted to and which is being taken "very seriously."
Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis says a supervisor in his department was contacted when the off-duty deputy was stopped. He says his office understood the State Patrol would follow whatever steps were called for.
Since the sheriff’s department discovered protocol was broken, they conducted their own internal investigation. “Appropriate steps were taken with the deputy,” says Davis. He says just what steps were taken are an internal matter and cannot be released to the public. The same for State Trooper.
"I don't know if this should be a firing offense," says Professor Walker, "but definitely some discipline. There needs to be additional training and a reminder to officers that this isn't acceptable. It's favoritism and 'look the other way' and 'excuse your crime' when we wouldn't do that for somebody else."
Last year, the State Patrol’s drunk driving arrests increased by more than 18 percent over the previous year. The number of road fatalities also decreased, from 91 in 2007 to 60 in 2008.
An off-duty Sarpy County sheriff's deputy was pulled over December 20th suspected of drunk driving. But the man in charge of the State Patrol, Col. Bryan Tuma, confirms the deputy was never given a sobriety test, never arrested and was allowed to get a ride home with a friend.
The allegations come amidst a DWI crackdown by the State Patrol, with a 37-percent increase in arrests last year by Omaha's Troop A alone. It was one of those troopers, Col. Tuma says, who let a suspected drunk driver go. “I believe he acknowledges that he made a mistake."
"The fact that (the party pulled over) was a law enforcement official may have had some bearing, may have had some influence on his decision of how he followed through."
"It's a double standard," says UNO Criminal Justice Professor Sam Walker, "because someones getting a break because he's a law enforcement officer."
The Nebraska State Patrol calls it an isolated incident.
Colonel Tuma says, "We know that there was alcohol involved and that officer allowed the person to be transported from the scene. Clearly out of context of what we normally do."
The stop happened after midnight on southbound Interstate 680 at Highway 75. One trooper noticed a car driving without headlights and pulled the driver over.
The trooper already had a suspect in custody from an earlier stop. “He radioed for assistance, another one of our troopers that was in the area came over and took over the traffic stop," says Col. Tuma.
That second, unnamed trooper approached the suspect’s vehicle. “There was an odor of alcohol in the vehicle. What's concerning is the trooper didn't follow through exactly the way we would prefer they follow through on one of those types of contacts."
"Instead of making an arrest or writing a citation or whatever was appropriate for that particular case, didn't occur and that's out of sync with our protocols."
For all we know -- the deputy who was off-duty and driving without headlights on may have been perfectly sober -- but without a test -- no one really knows.
The incident is disappointing says Mothers Against Drunk Driving Executive Director Simera Reynolds. "What we want to see is equitable treatment of all offenders. I think that this is a particular event that was unfortunate, but I don't think it's common practice."
Col. Tuma says his office was told about the situation immediately and the matter was turned over to Internal Affairs. However, the details of that investigation are not being disclosed.
"The officer will be disciplined here, appropriately, in the not-too-distant future," says Col. Tuma. He calls what happened “an error in judgment,” one which the trooper has admitted to and which is being taken "very seriously."
Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis says a supervisor in his department was contacted when the off-duty deputy was stopped. He says his office understood the State Patrol would follow whatever steps were called for.
Since the sheriff’s department discovered protocol was broken, they conducted their own internal investigation. “Appropriate steps were taken with the deputy,” says Davis. He says just what steps were taken are an internal matter and cannot be released to the public. The same for State Trooper.
"I don't know if this should be a firing offense," says Professor Walker, "but definitely some discipline. There needs to be additional training and a reminder to officers that this isn't acceptable. It's favoritism and 'look the other way' and 'excuse your crime' when we wouldn't do that for somebody else."
Last year, the State Patrol’s drunk driving arrests increased by more than 18 percent over the previous year. The number of road fatalities also decreased, from 91 in 2007 to 60 in 2008.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Corrections Officer Accused of Assaulting Inmate
OMAHA, Neb.
A Douglas County corrections officer has been cited for assault after being accused of attacking an inmate at the county jail.
The inmate, 23-year-old Michael Farrar, says he was in jail June 11 on suspicion of driving under the influence. He says the corrections officer beat him up as he was walking toward his cell.
Jail officials and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirm that the guard, Eric Fleming, was cited on suspicion of third-degree assault. He is on paid administrative leave during an internal investigation.
Two other officers who witnessed the incident were also placed on paid leave but have not been cited.
A Douglas County corrections officer has been cited for assault after being accused of attacking an inmate at the county jail.
The inmate, 23-year-old Michael Farrar, says he was in jail June 11 on suspicion of driving under the influence. He says the corrections officer beat him up as he was walking toward his cell.
Jail officials and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office confirm that the guard, Eric Fleming, was cited on suspicion of third-degree assault. He is on paid administrative leave during an internal investigation.
Two other officers who witnessed the incident were also placed on paid leave but have not been cited.
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