LPD: Teen stole car at gunpoint
A Lincoln teen is in custody and police are searching for his accomplice after the two allegedly carjacked an 18-year-old man at gunpoint early Tuesday morning, according to police.
The victim told police that two males pulled him from his Volkswagen Passat at gunpoint near 27th and W streets at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday before taking off in the sedan, Lincoln Police Sgt. Chris Vollmer said.
About 36 hours later, at about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, police spotted a 17-year-old boy pumping gas into the stolen Volkswagen at a convenience store near First Street and Cornhusker Highway.
Police took teen into custody and searched him, Vollmer said, finding a “controlled pharmaceutical amphetamine” on him. Officers did not find a gun on the teen or in the car.
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He was referred to the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office on suspicion of accessory to robbery and possession of a controlled substance. Police took him to the county’s Youth Assessment Center.
Woman allegedly bilked relative
A Lincoln woman is facing felony charges for allegedly bilking an elderly relative of close to $20,000.
Lincoln Police arrested Elizabeth Scalf, 28, early Thursday and she made her initial court appearance later that day on charges of felony theft by unlawful taking and financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
In court records, LPD Investigator Cindy Koenig-Warnke said Dec. 8, 2021, Adult Protective Services reported concerning transactions on the then-94-year-old’s bank account and an increase of activity on his credit cards.
He had been diagnosed with dementia earlier that year.
Koenig-Warnke said bank records showed 41 checks made payable to Scalf between July 2020 and October 2021, totaling $14,237, plus 114 unauthorized credit cards transactions for $4,527, and additional purchases at gas stations, grocery stores and retail stores.
Scalf posted bond and was released from the county jail Thursday.
Ex-Omaha officer pleads guilty
OMAHA — A former Omaha police officer pleaded guilty to production of child pornography in federal court Wednesday.
Christopher Groth, 39, also faces charges of possession and transportation of child pornography, according to court documents. Groth, who was an Omaha police officer for 15 years, was terminated following his indictment in February 2022.
According to the indictment, Groth coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing a visual depiction between September and December 2020.
It also alleges that Groth transported the depiction on or about Feb. 2, 2021, and that he knowingly possessed child pornography on or about June 3, 2021.
Groth had entered a petition to plead guilty in October 2022, but after firing his public defender and hiring a new attorney in December, no longer wanted to enter a guilty plea, court records show.
Groth’s sentencing is set for June 5 in Lincoln, according to court records, and a trial for the charges of possession and transportation of child pornography is scheduled for March 21.
