Trials for three accused in Plattsmouth beating continued

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By ALGIS J. LAUKAITIS / Lincoln Journal Star

Trials for three men accused of beating a Plattsmouth man with baseball bats on his front porch have been continued until Aug. 5.

Travis Meisinger, 19, Anthony E. Houchin, 18, and Joshua S. Hauschild, 22, were scheduled to go to trial Tuesday, June 10.

Authorities say the three men allegedly beat Tony Premo Sr. as he walked out the door of his home to investigate a disturbance on Sept. 9.  The attack was related to a fight between groups of young people from Weeping Water and Plattsmouth.

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Tony Premo following the attack. (Courtesy photo)

Tony Premo following the attack. (Courtesy photo)

Meisinger’s trial was postponed after his attorney, James Schaefer of Omaha, was granted permission to withdraw from the case two weeks ago.

Schaefer told Cass County District Judge Randall Rehmeier that Meisinger was not willing to pay him any more money to perform his legal duties, Cass County Attorney Nathan Cox said.

Nebraska City attorney Michael Ziskey, was appointed as Meisinger’s attorney and last week asked for a continuance to prepare his case.

At a 3 p.m. court hearing on  Monday, Judge Rehmeier heard motions to continue the trials of Houchin and Hauschild until Aug. 5, too, because of the Meisinger’s postponement. The county attorney’s office wants to keep all three cases together.

Cox said the judge had not signed the orders to continue the trials of Houchin and Hauschild but believed he would do so by today.

“There is no plan to go on with the trial for either of them on Tuesday,” Cox said.

All three are charged with first-degree assault and use of a weapon to commit a felony. The three Weeping Water men are free on bond.

Reach Algis J. Laukaitis at 402-473-7243 or alaukaitis@journalstar.com.