Cherry County Court: Meth, THC vape pen, explicit images sent to juveniles
VALENTINE, Neb. - Several cases in Cherry County Court this week revolved around drugs and another about explicit images being sent to juveniles. Here’s a look at some of the cases:
The cases against two Sioux Falls residents accused of possessing drugs and a firearm during a drug violation have been moved to district court. Chloe Peckham, 23 years old, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm during a drug violation. Peckham was in a vehicle in Valentine with Matthew Peterson, 19 years old, of Sioux Falls, when a police officer allegedly pulled Peterson over for speeding. According to court documents, Peterson was driving 72 miles-per-hour in a 45 mph zone. After the officer pulled the vehicle over, the officer said that Peckham was having difficulty breathing and was shaking. When the officer deployed his K9, the dog picked up on narcotics in the vehicle, leading him to a suitcase. The officer said he found four THC vape pen cartridges, two containing 71.4% THC and two containing 81.75% THC. The court documents also say that the officer found four marijuana containers containing 3.5 grams each with 12.3% THC for a total of 12 grams. Next to the marijuana, the officer said he found a loaded handgun. Peckham and Peterson are both scheduled for their first district court appearance on Jan. 17.
A 67-year-old Valentine man is accused of sending sexually explicit images of himself to juveniles. Steven Garwood is facing felony enticement by electronic communication device and misdemeanor contribute to delinquency of child. According to court documents, a Nebraska State Patrol investigator observed a Child Advocacy Center interview at the Bridge of Hope in North Platte, where a juvenile said Garwood sent him/her sexually explicit images of himself. The juvenile stated that he/she was concerned for the safety of other kids. During the interview, the juvenile talked about eight juveniles who associated with Garwood and at times worked for him.
A THC-filled vape pen and methamphetamine are at the center of two different court cases in Cherry County this week. According to court documents, Valentine Police say that after an officer encountered a vehicle with a nonfunctional headlight on Sept. 25, a K9 detected drugs, including the THC-filled vape pen and meth. This week preliminary hearings were set for two of the people in the vehicle: 19-year-old Michael T. Little of Mission and 27-year-old Shantoya Charging Elk of Oshkosh, Nebraska. They’re both expected in court Feb. 10.