Three people face charges after Nebraska State Patrol troopers found three children inside U-Haul while it was traveling on Interstate 80 near Odessa Friday.
Melissa Seitz, 36, of Pitsburg, Georgia, is charged in Buffalo County Court with three counts of child abuse (no injuries) and no operator’s license.
Soulona Schultz, 29, is charged with three counts of child abuse (no injuries).
Hardesty Hesperanza, 39, of Pittsburg, California, is charged with four counts of child abuse (no injuries).
According to an arrest affidavit, around 10 a.m. Friday, a Nebraska State Patrol trooper received a call about a U-Haul truck with occupants in the rear of it on Interstate 80. The trooper later conducted a traffic stop on the U-Haul at the Odessa exit.
The trooper said the driver, Seitz, stated she was traveling from Illinois to Wyoming to help a friend move. The affidavit said Hesperanza, however, stated she was traveling to California to “start new” and did not mentioning anything about Wyoming or helping anyone move.
Seitz later admitted to there being marijuana in the vehicle and kids in the rear of the U-Haul.
A probable cause search located three young children, Schultz, several cats and a small dog in the rear of the U-Haul. The trooper said there were clothing bags, trash and bedding in the rear cargo area, which was not ventilated or safe for the children.
The affidavit said Hesperanza later had a seizure in the trooper’s patrol unit and was transported to CHI Health-St. Francis where she was treated and later booked into the Buffalo County Jail. Seitz and Schultz were also booked into jail.
The three children were taken into Department of Health and Human Services custody. The cats and the small dog were taken to the Kearney Area Animal Shelter.
