Suspect in Armed Robbery Bound Over to District Court

A hearing was held on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, in Jefferson County Court to determined whether there is sufficient evidence that a felony was committed in the case of the State of Nebraska vs. Marzeanis M. Coleman, 34, of Lincoln.Coleman appeared in court in person in the custody of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Linda Bauer was the presiding judge.Coleman is facing five charges: robbery, a class 2 felony punishable by one to 50 years in prison; first degree assault, also a class 2 felony; possession of a stolen firearm, a class 2A felony punishable by 20 years in prison; operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a class 4 felony punishable by up to two years in prison, 12 months of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine; and first offense reckless driving, a class 3 misdemeanor punishable by three months in jail, a $500 fine and up to a year license revocation.Because some of the charges are felonies, Coleman was entitled to a preliminary hearing. The rules of evidence in a preliminary hearing are not the same as those for a trial. The purpose of the hearing is not to determine guilt or innocence but only that there is sufficient evidence that a felony occurred.ArrestAt approximately 11:19 p.m., the evening of Saturday, April 16, Jefferson County deputies and an ambulance responded to a 911 call from a McDonald’s employee who said there had been a robbery and a female employee had been assaulted and needed medical attention.According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, there was already a deputy on duty nearby at the time of the call. The deputy, “observed two black males running south through the large parking near McDonald’s and headed south across Hwy 136 and ran south on J Street.”The deputy followed and saw that, when the deputy started to drive south on J Street, headlights of a vehicle parked on the side of the street came on. The deputy reported pulling in front of the vehicle in an attempt to stop them from leaving but the vehicle jumped the curb and took off. The deputy pursued the vehicle and it failed to stop and left Fairbury eastbound on Highway 136.Other deputies who responded to the scene of the crime found a female employee of McDonald’s had been assaulted and was found to have what was described by law enforcement as “very serious but non-life-threatening injuries.” The victim was transported to the Jefferson County Hospital and treated.Meanwhile, law enforcement pursued the suspected vehicle eastbound on Highway 136 all the way to Beatrice, where speeds reportedly reached 125 miles per hour (mph). According to a press release, “The suspect drove in an extremely reckless manner and drove with it lights off at times during the pursuit.”With the assistance of the Beatrice Police Department, spike strips were deployed near Southeast Community College while they were entering Beatrice. An effective deployment of the spike strips led to the suspected vehicle becoming disabled near Highway 136 and SW 45th Road on the first curve going into town.The Sheriff’s Office reported that, “One individual was observed fleeing on foot near the disabled vehicle.”The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Gage County Sheriff’s Office and Beatrice Police Department all participated in a search for the suspect.At approximately 11:58 p.m., the Jefferson County Emergency Management Drone Team was called in to assist in the search.After approximately one-and-a-half hours, the suspect was located, identified as Marzeanis Coleman, taken into custody and transferred to the Jefferson County Jail.According to the press release, “During the investigation it was determined that two black males entered the back door of McDonald’s during closing while a cash drawer count was being conducted. During the robbery, a struggle between one of the suspects and the female employee ensued and she obtained injuries from the assault. The suspects fled McDonald’s after getting a small amount of cash. A search of the vehicle led to identifying items which could led (sic)to the identity of additional suspects. There was also a pistol located in the vehicle that was later determined to be a stolen firearm.”HearingA single Jefferson County Deputy was the only witness called.During the hearing, testimony indicated the amount of money allegedly stolen form the restaurant was approximately $2,500.The witness testified that there was a second suspect who was recorded the night of the incident on a “doorbell cam,” a personal surveillance camera.During cross-examination, the witness stated there was no video from the restaurant’s security cameras, which were not working at the time of the incident.The deputy also indicated that the firearm recovered by law enforcement has not yet been submitted to a lab for DNA and fingerprint testing, although it will be.Judge Bauer determined that there was sufficient evidence that a felony took place and bound the case over to the District Court.Criminal RecordColeman has a prior criminal record in Nebraska. All the following cases took place in Lancaster County Court:• In 2016, Coleman pleaded Guilty to unauthorized use of a financial transaction device, a class 2 misdemeanor. He was fined $500 and given 50 hours of community service.• In 2015, Coleman pleaded No Contest to unauthorized use of a financial transaction device, a class 1 misdemeanor. He was fined $1,000 and given 47 hours of community service.• In 2014, Coleman pleaded No Contest to two counts of third-degree assault, both class 1 misdemeanors and sentenced to 270 days in jail.• In 2013, Coleman pleaded guilty to assault and was sentenced to a $400 fine and 40 hours of community service.

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