Trial Date Set for Nevada Woman Facing Drug Charges in Jefferson County

A trial date has been set for a Nevada woman facing felony drug charges in Nebraska.A suspect in a Clark County, Nevada, grand larceny of auto case is now facing additional charges in Jefferson County.Kulanie Marie Mendoza (aka Kulanie Marie Bennett) appeared in Jefferson County District Court on Thursday, November 2024. David J.A. Bargen was the presiding judge.Mendoza is charged with the manufacture, distribution, delivery or possession of methamphetamine, a class 2 felony punishable by one to 50 years in prison; manufacture, distribution, delivery or possession of marijuana, a class 2A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison; and possession of drug paraphernalia, an infraction that carries a $100 fine. On April 9, 2024 at approximately 11:14 p.m., a Jefferson County deputy on patrol received a radio communication from Jefferson County Dispatch and was sent to a residence in Fairbury, according to an arrest affidavit, “for a report of a suspect heading to that address with a possible stolen vehicle out of (G)age county.” While at the residence, the deputy reportedly received a call from a Gage County Deputy, indicating the stolen vehicle in question belonged to both the suspect and her ex-boyfriend. The Gage County deputy said, “The vehicle would indeed be a civil matter between Kulanie and her ex-boyfriend.”However, the Gage County deputy also indicated that Mendoza had a Nationwide Extraditable Warrant out of the state of Nevada. Mendoza was arrested at the scene.During her arrest, deputies reported the smell of marijuana, “I advised Kulanie that as I detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and that this gave me probable cause to search the vehicle,” wrote the deputy that filled out the affidavit. “While searching the vehicle I found smoking paraphernalia in the center console with a white powdery residue in the bowl of a water pipe, as well a baggie containing crystalline rocks that in my training and experience resembled Crystal Methamphetamine. Both the pipe and the crystalline rocks field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine. Kulanie was transported to the Jefferson County Jail where while being booked that she requested her purse be brought into the jail and was searched in jail booking. Inside the purse was a small tool socket with a plastic guard around the middle, one end was covered in a white filmy residue that led me to believe that it had been used for the consumption or inhalation of narcotics. This device also field tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine.” Public Defender Scott Gropp was assigned to represent Mendoza. He advised the court, “I've not had any communication with my client in some time.”A trial date was set for January 23-24, 2024. Deadline for plea agreement is December 5.

Is It Art or Is It Memorex?

Fairbury Woman Facing Felony Drug Charge Requests New Attorney

Related Articles

Swearing in City Governments

Special Report: Toxic Power

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

Construction Begins on New Band Shelter