Former Deputy’s Trial Begins Monday
The trial for Wilbur U. Young, 59, of Plymouth, a former deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, is scheduled to begin the morning of Monday, April 4, 2022. Linda Bauer will be the presiding judge. Witness have been subpoenaed and jury selection will begin in the morning.
Young is charged with failing to serve a felony warrant, a class 2 misdemeanor that carries a possible penalty of up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Young, according to the citation, “On, about or between the 27th day of October, 2020 through the 26th day of November, 2020, knowingly neglect or delay to serve a felony arrest warrant against Jerry Barnes for a violation of felony probation, while serving in the capacity of a sworn law enforcement officer with a duty to immediately execute such warrants.”
Nels Sorensen was Jefferson County Sheriff at that time.
An investigation into Young’s conduct was undertaken by the Nebraska State Patrol and Young was terminated from his position in October of 2021.
The defendant has pleaded Not Guilty. He is represented by attorney Lyle J. Koenig of Beatrice.
Young is also one of three candidates currently running for Sheriff of Jefferson County. According to County Attorney Joseph Casson, a conviction does not prevent him from serving as sheriff. However, if convicted, he could be stripped of his law enforcement certification and the job of sheriff does require that certification in order to serve.
The other candidates are incumbent Sheriff Nick Georgi, who was appointed to the position last year by Jefferson County Commissioners after the previous Sheriff, Matt Schultz, resigned; and Cody Barry, a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office who was one of five candidates under consideration when Commissioners were searching for Sheriff Schultz’s replacement.
