Former detective pleas in fraud case

A former Hastings police detective accused of fraud through a deceptive website post last year accepted a plea deal Friday in Adams County District Court.

Jerry Esch pleaded no contest to theft by deception, a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

In exchange for his plea, prosecutors reduced the charge from a Class 2A felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. According to a news release from the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, Esch will pay $7,500 in restitution.

Judge James Doyle ordered a pre-sentencing investigation and scheduled sentencing for April 12 at 1:15 p.m.

Read more: http://www.hastingstribune.com/news/former-detective-pleas-in-fraud-case/article_dff6663c-d9dd-11e6-a08e-a3a16bb9376c.html