Defendant pleads guilty to four charges

McCOOK, Neb. -- A plea agreement was reached with a McCook man last week in Red Willow County District Court accused of several local thefts, including the burglary of a East First Street garage, the theft of two firearms and breaking into a pair of Weathercraft company vehicles.

The offender, Patrick J. Brooks of 1412 West 14th Street, was subsequently scheduled for sentencing in November on four charges, including a Class III felony burglary offense; a Class IV felony offense for theft by unlawful taking; and two Class I misdemeanor offenses for possession of stolen property.

Brooks was originally facing a total of four felony offenses and three misdemeanors stemming from tools he stole from two Weathercraft vehicles; a stolen rifle and shotgun found in his possession, belonging to Ray Ashford and Richard Hester respectively; tools stolen from Hester and a cell phone stolen from Heidi Cheney.

Brooks was scheduled for sentencing at 9:15 a.m. on Nov. 5, 2014.

In Nebraska, Class III felony offenses carry a minimum sentence of one year imprisonment, if jail time is handed down, and a maximum sentence of 25 years and a $25,000 fine.