Smith, Weaver take plea deals in sex trafficking case

STOCKVILLE - Two Furnas County men previously arrested on charges connected to a Furnas County sex trafficking investigation reached plea deals with prosecutors and appeared before District Court Judge David Urbom at the Frontier County Courthouse in Stockville Thursday.

Terry L. Smith, 38, and Bucky J. Weaver, 41, each saw their charges reduced to a single Class II felony count of First Degree Sexual Assault.

Smith originally faced two counts - one for First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child and another for Sex Trafficking of a Minor. Each of those counts was a Class 1B felony. Instead, he pleaded guilty to the lesser Class II felony, which calls for 1-50 years imprisonment.

Weaver was also originally charged with a count of First Degree Sexual Assault of a Child, a Class 1B felony, but pleaded no contest to the reduced count.

Each man had their bond continued, though Smith's was reduced from $45,000 to $10,000, accoring to court records. Each will have to undergo a Sex Offender Risk Assessment and they are required to comply with the presentence investigation that was ordered. Under terms of the plea agreement, Furnas County Attorney Morgan Farquhar said, each is also required to testify in future court proceedings related to the sex trafficking case if so called upon.

The sentencing for each is set for July 28 at 9 a.m. in Furnas County District Court.

The plea hearing was heard at the Frontier County courthouse in Stockville for the convenience of both parties.