A one-time North Platte resident who allegedly stole more than $1,000 from Burger King and fled justice appeared in Lincoln County District Court Monday.

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Jeremy Brunette was an employee at Burger King when he took the money March 9, 2008. A warrant for his arrest had been out since Dec. 1, 2008, when he failed to appear in court.

County Attorney Rebecca Harling said that Colorado authorities contacted her Oct. 20, saying they knew where Brunette was. He was arrested and brought to North Platte when he chose not to fight extradition.

Brunette told Judge Donald Rowlands that he and his wife had been living in Denver since he absconded. He acknowledged that he was at fault in the matter, and expressed a desire to make things right monetarily.

He addressed the court emotionally, stating that his wife works and he takes care of their kids.

Rowlands ordered $100,000 bond.

Brunette also had five active warrants from county court, including four for writing bad checks and one for assault.

In other court action:

• Eddie Houpt, 45, pleaded not guilty to third-degree domestic assault, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child abuse, and aiding and abetting escape following detention.

The charges against Houpt come from the relationship he had with an 18-year-old girl. The girl was 17 when the infractions occurred.

Houpt is accused, among other things, of harboring the girl for a month after she left her state appointed home.

Rowlands opted against reducing Houpt’s bond and set his jury trial date for Feb. 16.

• Rachael Gutierrez was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay more than $2,000 in restitution for a phony cell-phone account she created in her mother’s name.

Gutierrez was ordered to make Alltel whole for the money they lost.