Antelope County’s coffers will one day soon receive more than $2,600 following action earlier this week in District Court.
County Supervisor Harlan Brandt, 63, of Oakdale, accepted a plea agreement and entered a “no contest” plea to the charge of misdemeanor theft by deception. He had previously been charged with felony theft by deception.
As part of the plea agreement, Brandt will pay back Antelope County $2,601.35 in restitution.
In return for Brandt accepting the plea agreement Special Prosecutor Joe Smith dropped the theft charge from a felony to a misdemeanor.
During his time as county supervisor, between 2011 and 2014, according to the prosecution, Brandt charged fuel to the county which was used in his personal vehicle. He also, Smith indicated, purchased items from another county store which, investigators determined, were not for county use. The investigation was conducted by the Attorney General’s office, the Antelope County Sheriff’s Department and the Nebraska State Patrol.
Judge Johnson ordered a pre-sentence investigation. Sentencing has been scheduled for Wednesday, May 27, at 9 a.m. at the Antelope County Courthouse in Neligh.
