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The investigation into a missing Playstation 3 has led to some serious charges against a North Platte man. Lewis Hinojosa, 22, 419 ˝ North Bryan, is charged with possession of stolen property, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, and possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. The investigation began in September, according to documents filed in Lincoln county District Court. A man contacted the police department on Sept. 15. He explained that he had been living with his nephew and his nephew’s girlfriend, but had moved out a month earlier. He left some of his possessions at the residence, and according to him, his nephew and his nephew’s girlfriend agreed to look after them until he needed them. Included in the items left at the residence were a Playstation 3 and numerous video games, according to the documents. When the man contacted the woman who had been his nephew’s girlfriend about his possessions, she said that she had moved out and into a residence she shared with a Rosendo Duran. The Playstation 3 and games had been with her when she moved, but were no longer there. The man had then been informed by his nephew that Duran had allegedly taken the Playstation and the games and sold them to Lewis Hinojosa. Investigators learned that Hinojosa lived at the Elm’s Lodge, but were unsure which apartment he lived in. On Oct. 29, the manager of the Elm’s Lodge contacted police, the documents stated, and told them that Hinojosa lived in apartment 419 ˝. An investigator went over to the apartment and contacted Hinojosa. The investigator asked if he could come into the apartment, and Hinojosa agreed. Once in the living room, the court papers said, the investigator noticed a PS 3 controller sitting next to a Nintendo Wii. The investigator told Hinojosa about the missing Playstation and games. The suspect denied having them, even after he was told that the police believed Duran had stolen them, not him. The investigator believed Hinojosa was deceptive when questioned about the controller, so he asked for consent to search the apartment. Hinojosa declined, requesting a warrant. The investigator stepped outside of the apartment to make a phone call. While outside, he was approached by Hinojosa, who dropped a duffel bag full of games. “That’s all I have,” he said, according to the documents. The Investigator noticed that several of the titles in the bag were ones that had been listed as stolen. The investigator again requested permission to look for the Playstation 3, and was again rebuffed. However, according to the court papers, Hinojosa then began to walk around the apartment, attempting to demonstrate that the system was not in the residence. Inside one of the drawers he opened the investigator noticed a prescription bottle with what appeared to be marijuana inside, and several $20 bills next to the bottle. Hinojosa allegedly referred to the bottle as his “bud” in front of the investigator, according to the documents. A second officer arrived and Hinojosa was arrested for possession of stolen property. After the search warrant was secured, the search failed to turn up the Playstation 3. It did, however, uncover what police believe to be marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine. A scale, small baggies, drug paraphernalia, over 40 video games, and $240 cash were also taken by police from Hinojosa’s residence. One day after being arrested for possessing stolen property, Hinojosa had drug charges tacked on as well. The cocaine charge is a class-one C felony, punishable by up to 50 years in prison. The meth charge is a class-two felony, and also carries a maximum of 50 years. Possessing stolen property is a class-four felony, and could be punished by five years, a $10,000 fine, or both.
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