Photo by File photo Michelle Jones

A North Platte woman received three concurrent 90-day sentences for child abuse, meth possession, and shoplifting.

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Michelle Jones, 42, 1211 E. Fourth, was arrested June 24 after an altercation with her teenage daughter. Jones had become physical with the youth, striking her in the back of the head according to the North Platte Police Department.

When an officer arrived after the incident, the daughter and her friend reported that Jones had been using methamphetamine.

A search warrant was served on Jones’ residence, where drug paraphernalia and narcotics were discovered, a police spokesperson said.

The shoplifting charge stemmed from a May 27 incident at Shopko, when police discovered $116 in stolen merchandise of Jones’ person, according to a factual basis of the charges read in Lincoln County District Court when Jones pleaded guilty Sept. 28.

At her sentencing Monday, Jones’ attorney Amanda Speichert called two witnesses who testified that Jones participated in outpatient treatment and had performed well.

Margo Roberts with Living Sober, a support group for women battling addiction, said that Jones had been very responsible and had not missed any appointments.

Roberts also testified that Jones would likely be able to gain entry to St. Monica’s inpatient treatment facility.

County Attorney Rebecca Harling said that most of Jones’ lengthy criminal history seemed to revolve around chemical and alcohol abuse.

She also said that her recommendation for sentencing in this case was jail time until she heard that Jones may be able to get into St. Monica’s.

“St. Monica’s is a good program, and it sounds like she needs to go,” Harling stated.

Judge Donald Rowlands began his sentencing by recounting Jones’ criminal history dating back to 1996.

He said that Jones had 19 misdemeanor convictions in that time span, and had been on probation four times.

Given her history, Rowlands did not believe probation was an appropriate sentence. However, he agreed with Harling’s belief that Jones would be better served in treatment than in Lincoln County jail.

Therefore, he agreed to grant Jones day for day credit if and when she entered St. Monica’s program.

Jones also received five days credit for time already served.