Not guilty pleas to six felony counts. Charges in Cass County District Court allege the 59-year-old Meadow Grove, Nebraska man provided a controlled substance, a prescription sleep aid, to five teenagers while he was overseeing them on an overnight outing at Platte River State Park.
William D. Nelson, who prosecutors say does not have a criminal record, is alleged to have provided Zolpidem to five youths ranging in age from 13 to 17 years old. He is charged with five Class III Felony counts of distributing a controlled substance to a minor and one count of child abuse, a Class IIIA Felony.
The Cassgram reports Nelson, who had a prescription for the drug for his own use, was overseeing the teenagers on a June outing, says the sheriff’s report. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department was called after others observed peculiar behavior in the teenagers and one walked into a glass window. The sheriff’s department report said the teens were taken to Midlands Hospital to be checked out and were released that night with no major health or physical problems.
Nelson waived his right to a preliminary hearing in county court and entered the not guilty pleas in Cass County District Court via a written plea. A December trial date is set.
