Appeal in Hall County Murder Trail Fails

The Nebraska State Court of Appeals upheld the sentencing of Logan C. Hunts Horse.

 Hunts Horse pled guilty to one count of second degree murder and no contest to one count use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. The Hall County District Court sentenced him to consecutive terms of 64 to 94 years’ imprisonment for the second degree murder and 24 to 40 years’ imprisonment for the use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony. Hunts Horse appeals, claiming that the district court erred by imposing an excessive sentence. He also claims that his trial counsel was ineffective. 

The State provided the following factual basis for the pleas:
On March 9, 2023, at approximately ten o’clock in the morning, officers from the Grand Island Police Department and emergency personnel responded to  Fonner Park, R barn in particular, reference to a male who was unconscious and not breathing.

The male was identified as 62-year-old Todd Scherer who had just arrived on March 8th to start working at Fonner Park. Upon arrival, officers noticed Mr. Scherer was lying half on the mattress.  Officers observed what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his abdomen. When they rolled him over onto his stomach, they noticed an injury to the back of his head.

While on scene, officers spoke with some individuals that were present who reported that in the early morning hours of that same date, three subjects, had just shot a man at the R barn.

Upon learning that information, officers learned that  Hunts Horse was staying in another bunk room in the R barn. They went to that location where they found Hunts Horse sleeping. They took him into custody and subsequently interviewed him. During that interview, Mr. Hunts Horse admitted to  the shooting .

The court found that the district court did not abuse its discretion in sentencing Hunts Horse. The court  further found that Hunts Horse’s ineffective assistance of trial counsel claim failed.  His conviction and sentences were confirmed.