Combination of jail, probation given to Laurel woman

WAYNE – A Laurel woman will spend months in jail and years on probation for using an elderly resident’s credit card without permission while working at a Wayne assisted living center.

Teri Fettig, 39, will serve 90 days in jail for the unauthorized use of a financial transaction device. Once released, she must complete 30 months of probation for the cause of a vulnerable adult.

Fettig made fraudulent credit card transactions on a dozen of occasions at businesses in Wayne.

According to court documents, Fettig told police that the resident had given her permission to use the card to purchase items. However, the resident and power of attorney denied this claim. Through the investigation, law enforcement learned oftentimes, an employee may go with a resident to purchase items but it is very rare for an employee to purchase items alone and for transaction amounts to be more than $50. Law enforcement were able to obtain surveillance video which purportedly shows Fettig making purchases.

Cases against Fettig in Cedar County Court were also closed last week when she was sentenced to a $200 fine for an assault by mutual consent. Another domestic assault charge was dismissed with Fettig owing court costs.

In other court news: - A preliminary hearing was held and a felony criminal mischief charge was bound over to district court against South Dakotan Christopher Barta, 29. His charges stem from a Cedar County Sheriff’s Office and Nebraska State Patrol investigation into wire cut near tower boxes on three stands of center pivot irrigation. Law enforcement allegedly located Barta’s debit card under a pivot section. A local center pivot installation company estimated costs of parts and labor to repair the three spans would be about $8,500.

– Phelan Schwager, 36, Randolph, waived a preliminary hearing and his felony charges were bound over to Cedar County District Court including criminal mischief, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, theft by receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance. When the Nebraska State Patrol arrested Schwager for his alleged involvement in criminal mischief and theft of copper irrigation wire, they located methamphetamine on him. A search of his residence and garage located additional evidence including an alleged stolen motorcycle and firearm. His next court date was set for Oct. 23.

– Kyle Ferrell, 32, Norfolk, appeared in Cedar County Court for a pre-trial hearing and changed his pleas to guilty. His case on convictions of third-degree domestic assault and two counts of disturbing the peace proceeds to sentencing set for Nov. 21. Cedar County deputies found a woman with an injury to her face and stomach after responding to a disturbance at a Randolph residence July 5. He threatened to beat the woman further before leaving the residence. Neighbors confirmed they could hear the argument and one went over to the house in an attempt to intervene.

– Albert Bathel, 73, waived a preliminary hearing and felony charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, third-degree domestic assault, two counts of terroristic threats and resisting arrest were bound over to Cedar County District Court. Bathel refused to leave the residence when law enforcement arrived but eventually let a deputy in to attend to a woman in the home who had fallen. During the investigation, officers found both parties to be intoxicated and located a loaded revolver in a case at the residence. Along with threatening to kill responding law enforcement, the woman later reported Bathel threatened to kill her. Deputies found Bathel in violation of the law by possessing a firearm due to a prior conviction of domestic assault.