Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper
A Sidney man faces three drug-related felony charges following his arrest Tuesday during a police “knock and talk” incident.
According to an arrest affidavit, authorities took Valente A. Acosta Simental, 51, into custody and charged him with Class III possession of marijuana with the intent to deliver/distribute, Class IV possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and Class IV possession of drug-related money.
Cheyenne County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Nebraska State Patrol, WING Drug Task Force and Sidney City Police Department, stopped at an apartment in the 900 block of Jackson Street due to recent suspected drug activity.
Authorities knocked at the door, and Acosta answered. According to the affidavit, authorities could smell marijuana in the apartment, and the police were then invited in.
Once inside the apartment, authorities were able to observe paraphernalia and other containers and bags of a substance believed to be marijuana.
Investigators then asked Acosta if he had any other marijuana, and more was discovered in a cooler. The search continued, and more paraphernalia was discovered, along with an amount of methamphetamine, digital scales, two boxes of cellophane bags and large amounts of money with names written on them.
Acosta later told authorities that he had been selling drugs out of his apartment for up to three months due to a lack of work. Acosta added the methamphetamine was for his personal use.
Acosta was then booked at Cheyenne County Jail, where he later posted bond ($50,000 or 10 percent) and was released.
In other drug-related court matters Wednesday, two Iowans charged with four felony counts were both arraigned before Cheyenne County District Judge Derek Weimer.
Jessica Carroll, 31, and Benjamin Schneider, 21, both of Ames, pleaded not guilty to four felony charges: Class III intent to deliver a controlled substance (separate charges for marijuana and hashish), and two Class IV counts, possession of marijuana (more than one pound) and no drug tax stamps.
Carroll’s jury trial has been scheduled for May 13 at 8:30 a.m., with a pre-trial conference set for May 1 at 2 p.m..
No trial date for Schneider was set, and a status hearing is scheduled for April 3 at 9:30 a.m.
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