Man faces violation of probation charges in sexual assault case

HARTINGTON — A man is back in jail three months after a judge gave him probation — again with allegations of inappropriate sexual conduct.

Nineteen-year-old Steven Habegger was sentenced to four years of probation in March by Judge Bryan Meismer for attempted first-degree sexual assault and intentional child abuse involving sex with an underage girl.

In the case, Habegger started talking to a 12-year-old girl through social media. At the time he was living in Montana but moved to northeast Nebraska to pursue a relationship with her. Sexual encounters with the girl occurred at a home in Wausa as well as a Hartington hotel where Habegger told hotel staff that the girl was his sister and he paid cash for the room.

Meismer had the statutory authority to sentence Habegger to up to 23 years behind bars.

“That’s longer than you’ve been alive. I want you to understand this is serious, serious things we’re talking about here,” Meismer told Habegger when sentencing him to probation. “I’m taking a chance on you here. I hope you never see the inside of a courtroom again.

Please don’t make a fool out of me here.”

But it didn’t take long for Habegger to find himself on the wrong side of the law again.

He was arrested on April 30 in Missoula, Mont., and charged with negligent vehicular assault after a driving under the influence investigation. At that time, Montana probation found him to be in possession of a cell phone which went against his probation order, disallowing use of any electronic devices where he could access the Internet.

On May 8, Nebraska probation asked for and......... for more check out the Cedar County News print edition or get a copy of our E Edition at

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