Courtesy Photo­Image Lucille M. Johnston

Lucille M. Johnston, 38, of North Platte was convicted Monday of probation violation. She was originally charged with theft and forgery, after a string of such crimes.

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Johnston signed a stolen check in December, her third theft in two years. She was placed on strict probation in April but violated it in July. Johnston was jailed July 26 and released Aug. 17, according to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s records.

Deputy Lincoln County Attorney Tanya Roberts-Connick asked Lincoln County District Judge Donald Rowlands for more jail time, consecutive to time that Johnston served for the probation violation. But defense attorney Russ Jones argued that jail time should run concurrent to her time served.

He said the county doesn’t need to keep paying him as the public defender to come back to court.

Rowlands sentenced Johnston to 71 days jail, but she received 71 days credit, counting good time, Rowland said.

In 2009, Johnston was convicted of helping Menard’s customers steal more than $5,000 of construction materials, where she was a security guard.

In late December, she was arrested when investigators found she’d stolen a checkbook and wrote a check to herself for $475 while she was on probation for felony theft. She was re-arrested three weeks later for driving under a suspended license. Additional investigation also pinned her for another theft that occurred in September.

Five months ago, Jones told the Lincoln County District Court that Johnston had taken initiative to improve herself and was diligently looking for employment to help pay restitution. Rowlands put her on strict probation, which she subsequently violated.

Under the terms of her probation, Johnston was ordered to submit to random drug tests and random searches, to attend mental health counseling and drug/alcohol treatment classes and only live with someone who has been approved by her probation officer. At that time, Rowlands said failure to comply would result in at least three months in jail.

In other district court action:

• Donald Rohwedder, 50, of North Platte, was convicted of theft by deception after pleading no contest.

As general manager at Janssen Motors in 2010, Rohwedder allegedly took down payments on cars and didn’t turn the money over to the dealership, police said. Prosecutors said he took $14,000 between August and October of 2010.

Rohwedder was arrested and charged in November 2010. Rowlands told him to return Oct. 29 for sentencing.

• Jon Skinner, 50, of North Platte, was arraigned for aggravated assault and use of a firearm to commit a felony. He was also ordered to return next month. Defense attorney Michael Nozicka asked for and was granted more time to take depositions from witnesses.

• A charge of possession of a stolen firearm in November against Jon Farley was dismissed, but Farley will face new charges in Lincoln County Court, Roberts-Connick said.