Do I Need a Lawyer before I Am Charged?

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, April 7, 2015

There are basically two ways in which an arrest is made. The first occurs when the police are called to the scene of a crime, or witness a crime in progress, and make an arrest right then and there. The second happens after a lengthy investigation by law enforcement. When the police are investigating a crime and they have a suspect the suspect often is aware they are under suspicion. If you ever find yourself in that situation you may wonder “ Do I need a lawyer before I am charged? ” The simple answer is “absolutely!” In fact, hiring

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How Does the Prosecutor Decide Which Cases to Pursue?

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, March 26, 2015

If you have recently been arrested in the State of Nebraska and are awaiting a decision by the prosecutor’s office to find out if official charges will be filed against you it is likely you have lots of questions. One of the questions you may have is “ How does the prosecutor decide which cases to pursue? ” While a simple, universally applicable, answer to that question does not exist, a better understanding of the charging process and the factors that typically go into deciding which cases to pursue might be helpful. When you are arrested the law enforcement officer

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What Is Conspiracy?

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Federal Crimes on Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Thanks in large part to Hollywood, the word “ conspiracy ” is a common word in the English language. Unfortunately, however, Hollywood has not always done a very good job of portraying the word accurately. “Conspiracy” is an actual crime in most states, including the State of Nebraska; however, the definition of the crime is more complex than it is typically portrayed in a Hollywood blockbuster or a bestselling novel. If you have been charged with the criminal offense of conspiracy in Nebraska you should consult with an experienced Nebraska criminal defense attorney for specific advice or to discuss the

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Can I Get House Arrest in Nebraska?

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Defense on Thursday, March 19, 2015

If you are currently facing criminal charges in the State of Nebraska you are likely concerned about the potential penalties for the offense with which you are charged. The more serious the offense is the most likely those penalties could include a term of incarceration. While you undoubtedly hope you are not sentenced to a period of incarceration, if you are you may be wondering “ Can I get house arrest in Nebraska? ” House arrest is essentially just what the name implies – being under arrest in your home instead of a jail facility. Nebraska Revised Statutes § 47-401

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Can My Attorney Get My Warrant Withdrawn in Nebraska?

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, March 17, 2015

If you have an active arrest warrant it means you could be arrested at any time and in any place. Imagine getting pilled over with your family in the vehicle and going to jail or having the police show up at your home or place of business and being arrested in front of your family or co-workers. The only way to avoid this with certainty is to get the warrant withdrawn which may lead you to wonder “ Can my attorney get my warrant withdrawn in Nebraska? Under most circumstances the subject of an arrest warrant is aware the warrant

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Man Detained for Armed Robbery After Police Chase

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Violent Crimes on Monday, February 23, 2015

A 31-year-old Nebraska man who police accuse of being involved in several robberies was taken into custody on Feb. 13. One robbery allegedly occurred on the night of Feb. 12 when a woman was held up in the parking lot of an apartment. Police found the man driving in the area of Spencer and 28th, but claimed that he would not stop in response to attempts to pull him over. When a helicopter began following the man, he jumped out of his car and ran across Highway 75. Authorities then detained him. According to reports, he was carrying stolen property

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Differentiating between Theft and Larceny

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Theft Crimes on Thursday, January 29, 2015

Nebraska residents may have heard the terms theft and larceny. While they some states still differentiate between larceny and theft, they are generally the same crime. In both instances, an individual who commits theft or larceny intends to steal property and permanently keep it away from the owner of that property. To prove that theft or larceny occurred, it may be necessary to prove that an individual intended to keep the property. There are two types of theft cases that may be tried in court. The first type is petty theft, which involves crimes involving less than $1,000 in goods

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Nebraska man charged after vehicle pursuit

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Theft Crimes on Tuesday, January 20, 2015

According to reports, officers with the Beatrice Police Department provided assistance to Nebraska State Troopers in ending a pursuit involving a vehicle that had been reported stolen. The incident occurred on Jan. 11 shortly after 8:30 p.m. in Fairbury. An 18-year-old man allegedly stole a 1996 Jeep Cherokee from a driveway on 6th Street. Officers reported that the Jeep was first spotted on U.S. Highway 136 and that it was traveling at a higher speed than the posted 60-mph speed limit. Police began to pursue the vehicle, and they claim the driver went onto the shoulder but then accelerated and

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Teen taken into custody after double murder in Nebraska

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Violent Crimes on Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Police say that a 16-year-old male was taken into custody after a shooting that took place on Jan. 3 just after 11:30 p.m. The shooting took place outside an apartment complex at 100th & Arcadia Plaza in Omaha where two 26-year-old men were killed. It was reported that they each had multiple children who they left behind. The teen who was taken into custody was the son of an Impact One leader, which was a local anti-violence group. Police say that the teen was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, and there was no information given as to where

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Police arrest 2 in alleged chop shop car theft ring

On behalf of Tom Petersen posted in Theft Crimes on Tuesday, January 6, 2015

According to sources, a West Omaha business owner and his employee both stand accused of operating a chop shop and dealing in stolen parts. The 61-year-old business owner allegedly employed another man for help with the scheme in which vehicles were stolen and disassembled. Upon taking the vehicles apart, the men reportedly used the stolen parts to upgrade salvaged vehicles for sale. Upon their investigation, officers located parts traced to 13 different stolen vehicles from Council Bluffs and Omaha. Officers found parts traced to seven stolen vehicles at the business owner’s two homes. After searching the homes, officers were then

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