Sub teacher pleads guilty to sex assault BY JLL CONNER Charges against a Lincoln substitute teacher were amended Tuesday in Lancaster County District Court Myron Robertson, 41, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault after police discovered in October that he was having sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl Robertson agreed Tuesday to plead guilty to one count of attempted sexual assault only if his second charge was amended to attempted visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct Robertson’s attorney and Deputy County Attorney Lory Resold reached a plea agreement and Robertson pled no contest to the second, lesser charge. District Court Judge Earl Withoff warned Robertson that his guilty plea did not erase the consequences of his actions. “If you plead guilty and I accept your plea, you will be charged with two felonies that later on in life can be used against you," Withoff said. The state agreed not to file any more charges against Robertson. Robertson met the 14-year old girl at a school where he was a substitute teacher. In September, die girl’s moth er told officers that Robertson had been at her home to help her daughter with math homework. During the visit, Robertson took some pictures ofthe girl, which he said would be used for wallpaper on a class computer, County Attorney Pasold said. A few months later, in October, the girl and a friend went to Roper Park while the girl’s mother was shopping The moth er returned to find Robertson’s truck parked near the park. A Lincoln Police investigator interviewed the girl’s friend, who said Robertson had taken sexually explicit pictures of both her and her friend at the park, Pasold said. Pasold said the girl had con tact with Robertson through a cel lular telephone he’d given her. Robertson’s brother told police in September that he sus pected his brother had sexual intercourse with the girl During an interview, the girl told police she’d had sexual con tact with Robertson once before September Bill to help cities CITIES from page! tion center. In the process of making these changes, Wickersham said, the state will lose money to fees and taxes that it wouldn’t have to sacrifice if the money were spent on building renovations. He said community planners in Lincoln and Omaha will need cash right away, forcing them to issue interest-bearing bonds that will be paid down gradually as tobacco taxes roll in. But each year lawmakers wait for the taxes, he said, the state has to pay interest to bond purchasers. In the end, Wickersham said, the state will have to spend about $10 million on interest and fees. Ten million dollars could go a long ways toward fixing broken buildings, he said. Sen. Chris Bourne of Omaha voted for the bill in hopes of fix ing a sewage problem that plagues some of his constituents. Bourne amended the bill to ensure the City of Omaha fix a sewer problem in East Omaha that floods residential base ments with raw sewage during heavy rainfalls. Years ago, he said, the mayor and the city council reached a “gentlemen’s agreement* to clean up the sewage. But, he said, when new politicians took office, nothing was done. So, Bourne said, he added an amendment that forces the city to spend $7 million a year for the next four years on sorting out the sewer problem if it wants to get die rest of the tobacco money. Beyond his sewer concerns, Bourne said, he wasn’t overly interested in die bill “My concern really was limit ed to the City of Omaha honor ing its agreement,” he said. Hard work rewarded CLEMENTS from page 1 events. “The panelists make sure you know what you’re talking about" eh* said. After she graduates in May 2002, dements said she’d like to go to law school, perhaps at Columbia University in New fork. After college, dements said she’d like to combine her political science and history majors with her international relations and African American studies minors to work with human rights and international aid and develop ment dements said her ideal job would be to work at the United Nations. The scholarship also helps dements get her foot in the door for an internship with the State Department in Washington, D.C, after graduation. While at UNL, dements was an ASUN senator and chair woman of the Human Rights rnmmittpp Last fall, she fought against the passage of Initiative 416, which bans same-sex marriages, domestic partnerships and gay civil unions in Nebraska. dements also worked - suc cessfully- to get domestic part ner benefits few UNL students. So far, she’s worked for such benefits for faculty and staff members to no avail. "A lot of my work in student government simply has been reaching out," she sakL "It wasn’t championing issues but making sure they're heard." Although Clements is receiv ing a hefty award for her public service, she said working with , other students made it possible. “It's not just me," she said. “It's a little bit of a testament of the hard work of the students.” Do you wont to develop the following skills: •employment •communication • presentation Jhmm tot's |«t NtSUNL! Soon Encouraging Responsible Sexuality at UNlJPEISUNl) are looking for motivated and responsible students interested in providing educational programming in an inclusive, non|udgemental and appropriate manner. Stuaents must enroll in and complete HLTH230 for PSEs (during the first 5 week session on Tuesday and Thursday from II a.m. to 12:20 p.m.). Par mare Infarmatians Community Health Education 12 University Health Center 472-7440, phone , e-mail Apply ea-llne ati As Lkmwwty of Ntbnako m m *qucj opportune educator Police looking for suspects in Seacrest Field vandalism Vandalism at Seacrest Field, Lincoln East High School’s foot hall stadium near 74th and A Streets, left police without any sus pects. Finnell said the vandalism occurred sometime between 5 p.m. Friday and 11 ajn. Monday. Staff at the field found a 12 foot by 14-foot section of burnt grass and paint spilled on the field, she said The total damage amounted to about $10,000, she said Police are offering a reward for any information regarding the vandalism. Anyone with possible information is urged to call Crime Stoppers at475-3600. Compiled by fill Conner j w\ " tail—ahlDhpinihihrMii 1 | Coapoa aapiras May 31,2001 ■ I I Cap& I I Gown Day I Today Seniors Today is the day to pick up your caps and gowns at the Grand Ballroom Nebraska Union •10 am - 6 pm “SENIOR SALUTE” All Your Graduation Needs In One Place •Purchase Cap & Gown • Personalize Announcements ^ • Order Class Rings from Jostens KH ft * *Speak with the Alumni Association w m • Get Graduate Studies Information | • Find a Career with Job Services uamnitiTY ^Register to Win Prizes BOOKSTOM •Free Refreshments Training for Students Free Adobe Photoshop Hands-on Student Technology Workshop Wednesday, April 4 Bancroft 239. Ill Cfo Ci■pusJ|g Student technology workshops are free for registered UNL students. Space is limited. Sign up online: http://itg.unl.edu/tnuning/student/ Two juveniles arrested for vandalism,assault Damage to about 60 vehicles and homes in die northwest part of Lincoln led to die arrest of two Lincoln teen-agers Monday. Christopher Bebard, 17, and Chad Bruchett, 16, were both arrested on three counts of felony criminal mischief and one count of felony assault after officers spotted the two using a pellet rifle to shoot out a window, said Lincoln Police Officer Katherine FinnelL Finnell said reports of die van dalism came in around 9 p.m. Monday. Around 10:30 pun., a 13-year old boy walking near Mickle Middle School, 2500 N. 67th St, was shot in the chin with a pellet from a moving car. Theboysaid he sawa red vehi cle pass him, Finnell said, and after the vehicle stopped and backed up, the boy was hit The 13-year-old was taken to St Elizabeth’s Hospital, where the pellet was surgically removed. Officer Paul Aksamit was help ing the northeast team find the two teen-agers when he spotted a red vehicle in an ally around 63id and Ballard streets. Aksamit, from the unmarked car Ik was sitting in, saw a person reach out of the passenger side window of the red car and then heard the sound of glass breaking. The two teens were appre hended and cited with the charges. Man charged with sexual assault ofstepdaughter A Lincoln man was d ted with sexual assault after he allegedly sexually assaulted his stepdaugh ter. Finnell said Roberto Romero, 34, was cited Monday with first degree sexual assault of a child after his stepdaughter reported two incidents to the Lincoln Police Department Romero's 14-year-old step daughter reported a week-long sexual relationship in January, and a second assault that occurred about a week ago, Finnell said. Romero was taken to Lancaster County JaiL Please recycle your Daily Nebraskan! J Cm tact M^J«* Taniy bJhny dt 472-2473 «a» IMAGINE A CAMPUS WITHOUT THE PROBLEMS OF HIGH-RISK DRINKING. www.nudirections.org h’s tomato speak up.