Drug Bust Suspects Appear in Court

Three of the five suspects arrested in a drug bust last month appeared for arraignment in Jefferson County Court on January 11, 2023. Linda Bauer was the presiding judge.On December 16, at approximately 7:45 p.m., deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office conducted a Narcotics Search Warrant on a residence at the 1000 block of B Street in Fairbury. Upon entry, five adults and two minor children were located on the premises. According to the sheriff's office, multiple controlled substances and related items were found in the residence, including: methamphetamine, marijuana, THC wax, and “numerous paraphernalia items.”MaryAnn V. Flinn, age 52, of Fairbury, appeared in court in person. She is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and THC), a class 4 felony punishable by two years in prison, nine to 12 months of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine for each count.Jefferson County currently has only one Public Defender. To avoid any conflict of interest, each defendant must be represented by a different attorney, so the county must hire additional attorneys for the other defendants. Flinn is represented by attorney Dillon J. O'Doherty.Another hearing is scheduled for January 25. Flinn remains free on a $2,500 (10 percent) bond.Makayla Ruzicka, age 23, of Fairbury, also appeared in person with her attorney, Gregory Kratz. In addition to two counts of possession of a controlled substance, the defendant is also charged with child abuse/neglect, a class 3A felony, punishable by three years in prison, plus 12 to 18 months of post-release supervision.Another hearing is scheduled for February 1. Ruzicka remains free on a $5,000 (10 percent) bond.Thomas V. Caudy, age 36, of Fairbury, appeared in court via webcam from the Jefferson County Jail. He is also charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine and THC).Bond was originally set at $10, 000 (10 percent). His attorney, Public Defender Scott Gropp, indicated his client was unable to pay the bond and requested a PR (Personal Recognizance) bond, “I don't believe he's a flight risk.”County Attorney Joseph Casson opposed a PR bond but did not object to some reduction. Judge Bauer agreed to reduce the bond to $5,000 (10 percent).It was noted in court that Caudy also has two felony cases pending.In one case, Caudy is charged with possession of a controlled substance, class 4 felony. Caudy was arrested on October 4, 2022, on a warrant for violating the Nebraska Sex Offender Registration Act. According to an arrest affidavit filled out by a deputy, when the defendant was searched, among the items in his possession was a black key box, “I opened the black key box and observed a white powdery residue inside of it.”The residue field-tested positive for methamphetamine.In another case, the defendant is charged with violating the Nebraska Sex Offender Registration Act.Caudy is subject to the Sex Offender Registry Act as a lifetime offender. He was convicted of first-degree sexual assault on June 14, 2007 and sentenced on September 13, 2007.The Sex Offender Registration Act requires registrants to notify the local sheriff’s office of any change of address within three days.According to the Affidavit in Support of Arrest Warrant, Caudy had previously registered an address in Thayer County on June 26, 2022, and then what the affidavit describes as a “transient address” on September 2, 2022.On September 28, the Nebraska State Patrol advised the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office that Caudy had been living in Fairbury since September 13.Another hearing is scheduled for February 8. The defendant remains in custody as of press time.Two other defendants, 31-year-old Tyler Fazel and 51-year-old John Seefus, were not in court that day.

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