Court records filed of recent arrests in Dawson County drug cases indicate they’re the result of nearly three years of various investigations involving purchases of drugs and guns by a confidential informant or informants. The investigation was led by a west-central and southwest Nebraska law enforcement coalition known as the CODE Drug Task Force. Among the agencies in the investigation were Nebraska State Patrol, Lexington Police Department, Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Decatur(Kansas) County Sheriff’s Office and FBI.
In the arrest affidavit for 41-year-old Christopher Twohig of Lexington, a Nebraska State Patrol investigator describes two transactions in August 2020 involving the controlled purchases of guns and drugs. The first instance occurred at a Lexington residence in which a confidential informant purchased about 8 grams of Methamphetamine, a rifle, a rifle scope, 192 rounds of ammunition, 5 gun magazines and a gun case. The seller was alleged to be Twohig with codefendant 31-year- old Luis Lazo-Escobar involved in the transaction. Both Lazo-Escobar and Twohig are convicted felons and not allowed to possess deadly weapons. The second transaction occurred about two weeks later in the Cozad area involving all three individuals with a rifle and 4 grams of Methamphetamine exchanged.
Twohig has been charged in Dawson County Court with Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person, Possession With Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and being a Habitual Criminal, all felonies. Bond was set for Twohig at 10% of $500,000. He was scheduled to return to court on April 4, 2023 at 3:30pm. for preliminary hearing. No formal charges were available late Thursday afternoon for Lazo-Escobar.
Twohig was spotted around 7:15 am Wednesday morning by a State Patrol trooper. The trooper performed a stop of the vehicle on the basis of knowledge that the driver, Twohig, had a Dawson County warrant for his arrest. As Twohig was placed under arrest and searched, 47 grams of Methamphetamine was located in his coat pocket along with multiple empty baggies. In the vehicle, officers located a handgun, gun magazines, a 100 rounds of ammunition, drug paraphernalia and a gram of Marijuana. An Iphone and laptop was also seized. Twohig was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of a Firearm By a Prohibited Person and being a Habitual Criminal in this case. His bond set at 10% of $500,000 concurrently with his previous case. He was scheduled to return to court on April 4, 2023 at 3:30p.m. for preliminary hearing.
Luis Lazo-Escobar of Lexington faces five charges in Dawson County Court. They include Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute, three counts of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute Within 1,000 feet of School and Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person. His charges stemmed from the alleged sales of Methamphetamine and a rifle in controlled buys to a confidential informant:
July 2020- About 3 grams of Methamphetamine at a Lexington residence
August 2020- About 27 grams of Methamphetamine at a residence near Lexington Middle School
August 2020- About 28 grams of Methamphetamine at a residence near Lexington Middle School
August 2020- Participating in the sale of guns, firearm accessories and about 7 grams of Methamphetamine at a residence near Lexington Middle School
Lazo-Escobar is currently serving 5 years to 8 years and 6 months at the Nebraska State Penitentiary on Dawson County and Buffalo County convictions of Possession of a Firearm with a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Possession of Methamphetamine.
Brianna Pena is charged with Distribution of 10 grams to 28 grams of Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine and Distribution of Methamphetamine. A Nebraska State Patrol report indicated Pena was involved in a transaction of nearly 28 grams of Methamphetamine in the Lexington area in March 2021. In October 2021 Pena was allegedly involved in a transaction of 6 grams of Methamphetamine at a rural Lexington residence. Her bond was set at 10% of $100,000 and preliminary hearing set for April 4, 2023 at 11:00am.
Luis Valdez of Broken Bow has been charged with Possession of Methamphetamine With Intent to Distribute. It stems from a transaction in July 2020 in Cozad. A confidential informant is alleged to have purchased a small quantity of Methamphetamine from Valdez. Valdez has been released from custody after 10% of $50,000 bond was posted for him. He is scheduled for preliminary hearing on April 11, 2023.
Shelby Irish of rural Lexington has been charged in Dawson County Court with Possession of 10 grams to 28 grams of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute and Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine. Her case stems from a transaction at a Lexington business in which a confidential informant is alleged to have purchased about 21 grams of Methamphetamine from Irish in April 2021. She has been released from custody after 10% of $100,000 bond was posted for her.
Eric Valtierra, age 29 and formerly of Lexington was charged with Possession of 10 grams to 28 grams of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute. A State Patrol report indicates that in December 2020, Valtierra supplied around 13 grams of Methamphetamine to a woman who sold it to a confidential informant.
Valtierra is currently serving a 4 year to 8 year sentence for Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person and Attempted Possession of Methamphetamine in the Tecumseh State Correctional Institution for convictions from Dawson County. Lazo-Escobar is currently serving 5 years to 8 years and 6 months at the Nebraska State Penitentiary on Dawson County and Buffalo County convictions of Possession of a Firearm with a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Firearm by a Felon and Possession of Methamphetamine.
