Opinion ID: 1833024
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: holt count prosecution

Text: In June 2001, Miner was charged in Holt County with theft by unlawful taking in violation of Neb.Rev.Stat. § 28-511 (Reissue 1995), a Class III felony. The information specifically alleged that on or about March 20, 2001, in Holt County, Miner did take or exercise control over movable property of another with the intent to deprive him or her thereof, to-wit: 62 black and black baldy steers belonging to Wynn Hipke, from the Atkinson Livestock Market, said property having a value of more than $ 1,500.00. Following a bench trial at which he was represented by counsel, the court found Miner guilty of the charged offense. On July 22, 2002, he was fined $5,000 and sentenced to 60 to 120 months' imprisonment, to be served consecutively to any other existing sentence. Miner perfected a direct appeal pro se, but he was subsequently represented in the appeal by an attorney who did not represent him at trial. His claims on appeal included an assertion that the district court erred in imposing a consecutive sentence instead of a concurrent sentence and a claim that his trial counsel was ineffective for failing to file a plea in bar. Regarding sentencing, Miner argued that the presentence investigation report showed that he had previously been convicted and sentenced in Nance County for theft of some of the same steers. The Court of Appeals rejected this argument, noting that although the presentence investigation report contains both a letter from defense counsel and other information indicating that Miner was convicted and sentenced in Nance County for theft by receiving stolen property and disposing of livestock without evidence of ownership, the report does not show that these convictions involved the same cattle as the case at bar. [3] The Court of Appeals further determined that the evidence was insufficient to establish that Miner was convicted and sentenced in Nance County as he claims. [4] The court also determined that the record was insufficient to adequately review Miner's claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel, and accordingly did not reach that issue. It affirmed Miner's conviction and sentence.