Wymore Man Facing Up to 20 Years in Prison Gets Probation After Plea Deal

A Wymore man who was facing a serious drug charge in Gage County District Court pleaded guilty to a reduced charge and got three years of probation.Blake Groninger, age 29, was originally charged with possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, a class 2A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was also charged with possession of drug money, a class 4 felony punishable by up to two years in prison and one year of post-release supervision.Groninger was arrested in Beatrice by the Beatrice Police Department, responding to a tip. According to the arrest affidavit, “On April 4, 2024, I was driving by Burger King when I observed a vehicle parked in the parking lot that matched the description of a vehicle that had been reported to me that the owner of the vehicle was selling drugs out of the car at Burger King. The vehicle was also parked where the reporting party said it would be. As I drove by I could see two occupants, one in the driver seat and one in the front passenger seat. When I pulled into the parking lot of Burger King the male driver and a rear female passenger exited the vehicle and started walking away. I parked across the parking lot and got out of my patrol car. I looked at the male who exited the car and asked if I could talk to him. As we started walking toward each other I asked the male if that was his vehicle, which he replied yes. I asked his name, he told (me) Blake Groninger, which was the name given to me as the person selling drugs. When Groninger got close to me I could smell an odor of marijuana coming from his person.” The affidavit indicates police searched the vehicle, “I located a purple backpack on the front passenger floor. Inside the bag was approximately 1.5 ounces of marijuana in four baggies and two more baggies with marijuana residue inside a Crown Royal bag; a scale in the side pocket with marijuana residue on it. There was 40 unused baggies along with other miscellaneous drug paraphernalia. Groninger had $1,022 in his wallet in mostly in $20 bills.”In accordance with a plea agreement, Groninger pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted of a class 2A felony, which is a class 3A felony punishable by up to three years in prison and mandatory post-release supervision of nine to 18 months.On April 9, 2025, was sentenced by Gage County Judge Rick Schreiner to 36 months of probation.

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