NEBRASKA CITY - James Dunn, 30, of Nebraska City was sentenced to six to nine years in prison for possession of a firearm on Aug. 25 and District Judge Julie Smith said she expects state probation to ask to revoke his post release supervision on a 2022 attempted burglary conviction.

In the 2024 case, a Nebraska City Police Department affidavit says officers investigated the theft of a firearm from a pickup truck on north 18th Street and arrested Dunn after a witness identified him as a suspect in a photo lineup. The stolen firearm was recovered at Dunn’s residence.

Otoe County Attorney Jennifer Panko-Rahe said the firearm was stolen while Dunn was out on bond on charges of possession of a firearm  and for making threats to his parents Gareth and Helen Robinson.

Defense Attorney Julie Bear noted the death of Dunn’s stepmother and his father’s medical needs as obstacles to treatment and his recovery from substance abuse.

Bear: “The combination of mental health and substance abuse made recovery challenging for him.”

Following sentencing, Dunn’s father, Gareth Robinson, said he often felt helpless dealing with his son's mental illness. He said he is discouraged by the prison sentence because of the state’s rehabilitation record for inmates and he asked the community not to retaliate against him for what his son has done. He said he hopes to move on with time to mourn the passing of his wife in peace.

Judge Smith said the weapons conviction has a mandatory minimum so Dunn will serve 4.5 years before he is eligible for parole. He was given credit for 97 days already served.

In the 2022 case, a Nebraska City man was alerted by a previous report of a home invasion in his neighborhood when he heard a sound at his residence. He dialed 911 but did not push send until his encountered Dunn at his residence. The man told investigators he was being held at gunpoint but was able to push send on his phone without Dunn realizing he had made the call.