Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Multiple Felonies, Including Drugs, Theft and Explosives

A Fairbury woman with multiple pending felony cases pleaded not guilty to all charges.Amber M. Young, age 34, was arraigned on three cases in Jefferson County District Court on Thursday, February 5, 2026. David J.A. Bargen was the presiding judge. First ArraignmentIn the first case, Young is charged with possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence, each a class 4 felony punishable by up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.According to the arrest affidavit, a deputy with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on August 18, 2025, shortly before 11:00 p.m., in Fairbury. Young was identified as the driver of the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle was a passenger. The owner consented to a search of the vehicle.The deputy wrote in the affidavit, “A search of the passenger door compartment revealed an orange container, which contained a leafy green substance, which I knew from my training and experience to be marijuana. Zig-Zag rolling papers were in the center console.”In addition, a search of Young's purse reportedly uncovered a plastic self-seal zip lock bag containing a white crystal substance.On December 11, 2025, the deputy reportedly “was notified that Amber Young had possibly planted narcotics in my patrol vehicle during her arrest on August 18th, 2025.”Deputies reviewed video of the back seat of the patrol vehicle from that day. The video allegedly showed Young retrieve a plastic bag from her pants and unsuccessfully attempt to swallow it before “stuffing the object between the crease of the patrol vehicle's seat.”Deputies then searched the vehicle and located the plastic bag which contain “two large white crystal rocks and a white powdery substance” that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Second ArraignmentIn the second case, Young is charge with possession of 28 to 139 grams of methamphetamine, a class 1C felony punishable by five to 50 years in prison; possession of a controlled substance, scheduled 1, 2 or 3, a class 2A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison; possession of a controlled substance, a class 4 felony; intentional child abuse, no injury, a class 3A felony punishable by up to years in prison, 18 months of post-release supervision, and a $10,000 fine; and first degree unlawful possession of explosives, also a class 4 felony.Young was arrested on December 19, 2025, after the execution of a search warrant by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office of a residence in Fairbury.According to the arrest affidavit, the search uncovered “a large quantity of a white crystalline substance, a green leafy substance, and an amber wax-like substance. I know from my training and experience that the substance would be that of methamphetamine, marijuana, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).”Also located during the search was, “an M-series explosive,” which requires a permit from the Nebraska State Patrol.” Third ArraignmentIn the third case, Young is charged with theft by unlawful taking (value between $500 and $1,500), a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine; unauthorized use of a financial transaction devise (value less than $500), a class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine; and tampering with a witness, a class 4 felony.A warrant was issued for Young on January 15, 2026. According to the Affidavit for Arrest Warrant, Young was accused of taking a wallet containing $300 in cash, a debit card, a cashier’s check worth $242 and food stamps.Young was arrested and charged with theft by unlawful taking (value between $500 and $1,500), a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine. She was also charged with unauthorized use of a financial transaction devise (value less than $500), a class 2 misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.Another hearing is scheduled for April 2, 2026.Young has a prior conviction in 2021 for attempted possession of a controlled substance, a class 1 misdemeanor. She was sentenced to 12 months of probation.

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