County official Vette charged with two misdemeanors

    Chase County Commissioner Chuck Vette has been charged with two misdemeanors for using county equipment to help a private business.
    Vette has pleaded not guilty to charges of theft of services $0-$500 and official misconduct.
    Both are class II misdemeanors with a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
    Vette pleaded not guilty to both charges last week in Chase County Court.
    According to court documents, the offense occurred on April 18.
    Because of a conflict of interest due to Vette’s position as a county commissioner, the Lincoln County Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.
    Lincoln County Deputy Attorney Kortnei Hoeft said, “The allegations are that he used county property to assist a private business without compensation.”
    Specifically, Hoeft said, Vette is accused of using a county-owned front end loader to help a business unload a truck. The business is not facing any charges, she said.
    The official misconduct charge was filed because “the statute reads that [Vette] knowingly violate[d] a statute relating to his or her official duties. He only had access to the front end loader because of his duties.”
    Because both charges are misdemeanors, the matter will not be transferred to district court, she said.
    Vette referred questions to his attorney, Leslie J. Nordhausen of Imperial, who could not be reached for comment.
    His next appearance will be for a pretrial conference at 9 a.m. Oct. 23 in Chase County Court in Imperial.