Fairbury Man Backs Out of Plea Agreement

A Fairbury man accused of criminal trespassing came into court intending to plead No Contest to the charge but, by the time court had adjourned, he had withdrawn from that plea agreementMichael Brent Woolard, age 48, of Fairbury, appeared in Jefferson County Court in the custody of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. Linda Bauer was the presiding judge.Woolard is charged with second degree criminal trespass, a class 2 misdemeanor punishable by six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.On December 20, 2022, at approximately 3:41 a.m., deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office responded to a report of someone trying to break into a residence in Fairbury. According to the arrest affidavit, the occupants indicated Woolard was present without permission. Woolard was arrested at the scene.The defendant is represented by attorney Dillon O'Doherty, said a plea agreement had been reached, whereby the State would recommend a sentenced of time served and would not use this case to revoke Woolard's probation.Woolard had been in jail for an estimated 23 days.However, Woolard also has a case pending in District Court, where is accused of absconding. He was arrested on a warrant and is in custody for the probation violation.“His probation is being revoked because he absconded. It has nothing to do with this case,” said Jefferson County Attorney Joseph Casson.Both Woolard and his attorney indicated to the court that they had been under the impression the plea deal encompassed both cases. Once learning the scope of the agreement, Woolard withdrew his No Contest plea.Another hearing on this matter is scheduled for March 8.This is not Woolard's first brush with the law. Woolard was convicted of felony assault to commit rape on March 27, 2009, in Superior County, California and is designated a lifetime offender by the Nebraska State Patrol Sex Offender Registration Unit.In 2021, Woolard was charged with violating the Nebraska Sex Offender Registration Act, which requires he report to the sheriff of the county whenever he moves to a new residence. He is also required to report quarterly. The charge is a class 3A felony. In accordance with a plea agreement, Woolard pleaded No Contest to a reduced charge of obstructing government operations, a class 1 misdemeanor.

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