Judge gives max sentence in sexual case

HASTINGS – A Magnet man received the maximum sentences allowed under the law for an Adams County sexual assault incident.

Sage Stolpe, 21, was convicted and sentenced to 36 months in prison on a felony charge of child abuse and one year in prison on misdemeanor third-degree sexual assault.

After he serves prison time, he will serve a post-release probation of 18 months.

Stolpe met a 15-year-old girl through social media and drove to Hastings to pick her up, having sex with her in the vehicle.

Stolpe has another pending charge in Cedar County Court on an alleged protection order violation. The violation allegedly occurred Aug. 28.

In other court news: - Phelan Schwager, 36, Randolph, is wanted on felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor theft charges, stemming from his alleged involvement in a copper wire theft from an irrigation system.

In June, two spans of wire were cut from a Cedar County irrigation system so the owner set up a game camera. About a week later, the camera captured suspects who had returned to the area. Through investigation by the Nebraska State Patrol and sheriff ’s offices in both Cedar and Knox counties, Schwager was identified as one of the suspects on the game camera photos.

About 100 pounds of stripped copper wire was located during a probation search in Knox County believed to be connected with the Cedar County wire thefts.