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HARTINGTON — A man is back in jail three months after a judge gave him probation - again with allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct.
Nineteen-year-old Steven Habegger was sentenced to four years of probation in March by Judge Bryan Meismer for attempted first-degree sexual assault and intentional child abuse involving sex with an underage girl.
In the case, Habegger started talking to a 12-year-old girl through social media. At the time he was living in Montana but moved to northeast Nebraska to pursue a relationship with her. Sexual encounters with the girl occurred at a home in Wausa as well as a Hartington hotel where Habegger told hotel staff that the girl was his sister and he paid cash for the room.
Meismer had the statutory authority to sentence Habegger to up to 23 years behind bars.
“That’s longer than you’ve been alive. I want you to understand this is serious, serious things we’re talking about here,” Meismer told Habegger when sentencing him to probation. “I’m taking a chance on you here. I hope you never see the inside of a courtroom again. Please don’t make a fool out of me here.”
But it didn’t take long for Habegger to find himself on the wrong side of the law again.
He was arrested on April 30 in Missoula, Mont., and charged with negligent vehicular assault after a driving under the influence investigation. At that time, Montana probation found him to be in possession of a cell phone which went against his probation order, disallowing use of any electronic devices where he could access the Internet.
On May 8, Nebraska probation asked for and was granted GPS tracking of Habegger.
On June 1, the Nebraska probation officer asked for Habegger’s arrest due to his termination from transitional living in Hastings. Officials at the home allege Habegger had multiple violations including contact with underage girls and inappropriate touching of other residents.
He was given a sanction of 30 days in jail. During that time, Cedar County Attorney Nick Matney filed a motion to revoke Habegger’s probation.
Habegger appeared last week in Cedar County District Court, denying any probation violations. The court set his bond at $100,000 and he will next appear on Aug. 28.
In other court news: - Jackson Metheny, 26, Laurel pleaded not guilty on charges of protection order violation and stalking a Laurel family. A three-day jury trial was set for this fall.
- Sage Stolpe, 21, Magnet, failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He allegedly stole four rings valued at several thousand dollars, took them to a Norfolk jeweler and sold them. He also has charges pending in Adams County. In that county, he pleaded guilty to felony child abuse and misdemeanor third-degree sexual assault. The charges stem from meeting a 15-year-old girl through social media and driving to Hastings to pick her up, having sex with her in the vehicle.
- A North Dakota woman also failed to appear for her court case. A warrant was issued for the arrest of Melanie Peltier, 51, Grand Forks, N.D. She is charged with felony possession of methamphetamine.
