Trial here Thursday – everyone expected to win
There will be a trial at the Montgomery County Courthouse later this week. A jury will determine whether a local woman is guilty of a crime of passion. And when the trial is over, all of the participants will tour the courthouse and get ready to return to classes.
Youth Leadership Red Oak, directed by David Carbaugh, is holding a mock trial Thursday. The unit on “Justice and Government” is one of several in which the 13 students will participate this school year.
The trial starts at 9 a.m. and is in the courtroom in Red Oak. The event is open to the public, and is expected last 60 to 90 minutes.
Participants in the mock trial include: Bryan Mensen, judge; Emily Carbaugh, defendant; Abigail Sherman, defense attorney; Ryan Messinger, prosecuting attorney; Taylor Carrick, witness-police officer; Katie VanMeter and Cole Carlson, witnesses; and Carter Bruce, Isaac Bower, Sierra Athen, Callie Yeager, Garrett Rolenc and Cam Buntrock, jurors.
The case involves an alleged assault and disorderly conduct, and though it was requested details be withheld prior to the trial, it appears the event could be quite dramatic.
“Knowing the abilities of Abigail Sherman and Ryan Messinger, I think we’re going to have a Perry Mason-type performance,” David Carbaugh said. “It should be educational and super entertaining.”
Adults will be part of the event. Local attorneys Ivan Miller and Bruce Swanson will assist the student attorneys and Red Oak Police Chief Justin Rhamy will assist the student police officer.
“Youth Leadership Red Oak is a program created around a similar program called Youth Leadership Omaha that I was involved in when I lived in Omaha,” Carbaugh explained. “Our focus with this phase of the leadership program is to introduce students to area leaders and leadership opportunities.
“We also hope to expose the students to future career opportunities within the Red Oak community. Once created, the Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association agreed to sponsor the program under their organization.
“This year we included junior and sophomores to ensure we had enough students to make the experience a positive one. Moving forward, each grade will have their own phase of the leadership program.”
Carbaugh continued, “In our initial class, 13 students applied, were interview and accepted into Youth Leadership Red Oak. We had our opening retreat on Friday, Nov. 18, and Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Creighton Retreat Center in Griswold. Tracy Vannausdle was my team leader for the day and did an amazing job coordinating the kick off. The students seemed to have a great time and the volunteers were a perfect fit. They included Tracy Vannausdle, Nate Perrin, Tiegen Podliska, Deb Blomstedt, Deb Karwal and myself. The retreat center was sponsored by Houghton State Bank and the meals were sponsored by the Red Oak Ambassadors.”
Brian Mensen is the team leader for the Justice and Government event.
Other upcoming events include:
• TBD – city bus tour.
• Feb. 15: Health and Human Services: Bowling with the Nishna Productions clients and YLRO students; tour of Montgomery County Memorial Hospital; sponsored by the Red Oak Rotary Club.
• March 8: Media and arts at the Wilson Performing Arts Center.
• April 12 or 19: Business, technology and education at UNO.
• May 10: Graduation at the Wilson Performing Arts Center.