Courtesy Photo­Image Rosendo Duran

Photo by  John Runkle

Courtesy Photo­Image Jon Knepp

Rosendo Duran, 20, of North Platte, pled guilty Monday to theft of three cell phones from a Viaero Wireless kiosk in the Platte River Mall on July 20.

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Police were called to the mall the next day and told that three different demonstration phones were taken. The manager said that Duran visited the store more than once and took particular interest in one of the phones that was missing.

Duran and he was picked up later that day driving around Allura Gardens apartments on D Street. Duran’s license was suspended. He tried to run but was caught, and police found two of the three phones at a home in the 100 block of South Walnut.

In court, Deputy Lincoln County Attorney Tanya Roberts-Connick said the third phone has been recovered. Originally charged with theft, DUS and obstructing a police officer, the charges were bargained to one count of theft by taking, a felony.

A pre-sentence investigation was ordered and Duran’s sentencing is set for Oct. 15.

Duran has been jailed seven times in Lincoln County since March 2010, when he was arrested for failure to appear on juvenile charges.

Also in District Court action:

Runkle

John Runkle was convicted Monday of failure to register as a sex offender and sentenced him to 180 days in jail.

Runkle, 31, of 620 N. Willow, will receive credit for 60 days served, District Judge Donald Rowlands said as he handed down the sentence.

Before sentencing, defense attorney Martin Troshynski told Rowlands that Runkle is a product of an abusive childhood. He suffers from attention deficit disorder and he is bi-polar, Troshynski said, but nevertheless he has held a job and has not re-offended when he was out on bail.

Troshynski advised Runkle to use this last opportunity to avoid prison and asked the court for probation.

Deputy County Attorney Tanya Roberts-Connick asked for jail.

Runkle was arrested June 27 on a report of an alleged sexual assault of a seven-year-old child. The police obtained a search warrant and discovered a video image on Runkle’s computer that allegedly showed children in sexual acts.

Knepp

Jon Knepp, 38, of Tryon, pled guilty to one count of failure to register as a sexual offender.

Three other counts of the same charge were dismissed in a plea bargain with prosecutors.

On Jan. 1, Knepp failed to register as required. He was arrested June 28 and held on a $12,500 bond. He posted 10 percent and was released July 6.

Deputy Lincoln County Attorney Tanya Roberts Connick asked for a pre-sentence investigation and sentencing was set for Oct. 15.