Guilty Pleas Entered For Charges From County Fair Incident

An Elgin man facing multiple charges after a 2018 Antelope County Fair incident pleaded guilty to three misdemeanors Wednesday.

Chad Bode, 20, of Elgin, along with his attorney Ron Temple, appeared for an agreement on an amended complaint in Antelope County Court. 

Pursuant to a plea agreement, Bode pleaded guilty to operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a class I misdemeanor; obstructing a police officer, a class I misdemeanor; and possession of alcohol, a class III misdemeanor. The felony charges were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea.

When Judge Donna Farrell Taylor asked if it was true that he had possessed or consumed alcoholic beverages on Aug. 3, 2018, Bode replied, "Yes, your honor." When asked what he did to obstruct Officer Darin Ternus on that same date, he answered, "I left after he saw me, and I ran from my vehicle." Bode confirmed that he had used a motor vehicle to flee from the scene to avoid a minor in possession charge.

His sentencing has been set for March 6 at 11:30 a.m. The judge ordered a presentence investigation be conducted by the probation office prior to sentencing.
 
Operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest and obstructing a police officer charges each carry up to a $1,000 fine, one year in jail or both and the MIP carries up to a $500 fine, 90 days in jail or both.

The charges stem from an incident in which deputies attempted to stop and detain Bode and his vehicle after it struck a deputy performing traffic control following the Antelope County Fair concert in Neligh's Riverside Park, according to a press release from the Antelope County Attorney's Office. The deputy was not seriously injured.

According to Antelope County Attorney Joe Abler, Bode, then 19, was taken into custody by the Antelope County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 4 in connection with a short pursuit on Aug. 3 that began near Riverside Park and ended in a pasture south of Neligh. 

Deputies were investigating Bode and his passengers for possible drunk driving and other alcohol related offenses when Bode and his passengers fled from authorities at the scene. The vehicle entered a field near Highway 14 and 846th Road and became stuck in mud. Officials said Bode and five passengers all continued to flee from authorities on foot after Bode’s vehicle became stuck.