On Monday in Stanton District Court the following sentences were handed out by District Judge James Kube. Tausha Whitman, 26, of Elkhorn was sentenced to 10 to 15 years in prison on a Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver. She and a co-defendant were arrested last fall by the Stanton County Sheriff’s office following a traffic stop on Hwy 275 where almost a pound of methamphetamine and a stolen firearm were recovered. Whitman was also given a consecutive sentence of 2-3 years in prison on a conviction of Attempted Possession of a Firearm by a Felon. The handgun was a stolen firearm from the Omaha metro area.
Also sentenced for two counts of Possession of Methamphetamine was Andrew Paulsen, 34, of Tilden. Paulsen was sentenced to 2 years of probation and ninety days in jail for which he received credit with 96 days served. Paulsen was arrested on Halloween day last year by the Sheriff’s office in Stanton following a disturbance and found in possession of methamphetamine. He was also then again arrested on November 13th by the Sheriff’s office following a traffic stop on Hwy 24 where he was found in possession of methamphetamine and also charged with Tampering with Evidence.
An arrest warrant was filed for Jonathan Blekis Sr., 36, of Lodi, CA was issued after he failed to appear for sentencing on a felony drug possession charge. Blekis was arrested last year near Pilger by the Sheriff’s office driving a speeding semi-tractor while under the influence and found in possession of methamphetamine.
Also having a warrant issued for failure to appear was Rhona Dufek, 55, of Rosalie on a felony drug charge. Dufek was arrested last year by the Sheriff’s office following a traffic stop for a window tint violation and was found in possession of methamphetamine. Anyone with knowledge of her location is asked to contact the Sheriff’s office.
CANCELLED-DUFEK IN CUSTODY