Opinion ID: 1808114
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: The Felony Charges

Text: In early December 1986, a Deputy Sanchez delivered to Rhodes the written statement of Jerod Beck, a 16-year-old, about an incident involving Speer. In his statement, Beck reported that on the night of February 28, 1986, Speer forced Beck to the ground with a 3-foot stick, threatened to dislocate Beck's shoulder, and forced Beck to accompany Speer in Speer's automobile. Rhodes' exhibits indicate that in late December, he discovered that Jerod Beck's brother, Aron Beck, intended to sue the city for an alleged civil rights violation. The basis of the suit was that Aron Beck had been detained outside the city limits by the Broken Bow police for driving while intoxicated. Aron Beck claimed he was denied equal protection of the law because no action was taken on the assault committed on Jerod by the police captain's (Carl Speer's) brother inside the city limits. Rhodes then offered to prosecute Speer for the attack on Jerod Beck rather than to prosecute Aron Beck for driving while intoxicated. On January 12, 1987, Rhodes filed felony kidnapping and false imprisonment charges against Speer for the Jerod Beck incident. Speer testified that he was arrested and spent the night in jail. Speer appeared pro se at his bond hearing in county court the next morning. Rhodes requested that Speer be allowed a signature bond. The county judge, however, required Speer to post 10 percent of a $3,000 bond.