Scott Haun pleaded No Contest on Thursday morning in the Scotts Bluff County District Court after his attorney filed a motion for a plea agreement and requested to have the charges amended. Prior to his appearance in court, Haun submitted a letter of resignation from his Kimball City Council post..

Haun had been charged with first degree sexual assault on a child more than 12 years of age but less than 16, a Class I B felony. By agreeing to a lesser charge, he will be sentenced to first degree attempted sexual assault, a Class III felony, subject to one to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. Sentencing will be on June 11 at 2:30 p.m.

The plea agreement, submitted for the former Kimball board member by attorney Donald Miller came following judge Randall Lippstreu’s refusal to dismiss certain evidence and bar the victim from taking the stand.

Miller argued that the victim was not competent to answer questions regarding the incident.

Lippstreu stated that as a part of the plea bargain, the Scotts Bluff County attorney’s office agreed not to file any new charges regarding the case.

Haun’s resignation from the city council came as no surprise. Under Nebraska law, council members or other elected officials convicted of felony crimes while in office must step down. According to city administrator Harold Farrar, Haun submitted his letter at 7:30 a.m. on the April 19, before the 10 a.m. pre-trial hearing in Scottsbluff. Haun had served as a council member for almost twelve years.

Mayor James Schnell notified the other council members of the resignation and a special meeting was held on April 25 for the formal acceptance and public declaration of a council vacancy.

Haun’s resignation letter read as follows:



“Mayor:

I hereby tender my resignation as a City Council Member effective Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 7:30am. It is with great sorrow that I must resign due to personal reasons. I have enjoyed my tenure for almost 4 years this term. I feel Kimball is heading in the right direction and wish the community and the council well.  Regards - Scott L. Haun.”



Farrar stated that the city will advertise to fill the vacant seat at a May 16th meeting, looking to complete Haun’s term.

Haun was originally charged with first-degree sexual assault after an incident which took place on September 3, 2011 in Scotts Bluff County. According to court documents, he had sexual contact with a teenage boy.

The boy’s mother complained to authorities, leading to Haun’s arrest.

After posting bail, he continued with his city duties, though he lost his job in Scottsbluff as reporsts of the incident came to light.

The former Kimball city council member will now be required to register as a sex offender.  He remains free on bond until the sentencing hearing.