Court dates set in this week, in January for Mann, Acuna

    Two men from Chase County will be in court again on drug charges in December and January.
    Jesus Acuna of Imperial and Russell Mann of Enders were arrested April 2 on a variety of felony drug charges.
    Mann, 45, who faces five felony drug-related charges, is scheduled in court this Friday. His status hearing was moved to Perkins County and was set for 11:30 a.m. He has pled not guilty to the charges.
    Mann was being held on a $500,000 bond (10%). He requested a reduction April 28, when it was reduced to $250,000. Noting his inability still to post bond, another request to lower it further was made in September, but was denied.
    Mann remains behind bars in the Chase County Jail.
    Acuna, 42, whose bond originally was set at $1 million, is charged with two felony meth possession charges, and conspiracy to commit a Class 1 felony.
    An initial request to reduce that bond in July was denied. In September, however, the judge reduced Acuna’s bond to $500,000 and on Nov. 19 it was reduced again to  $250,000.
    Chase County Sheriff Kevin Mueller said Acuna was moved to the Dawson County Jail in Lexington, where he remains.
    Acuna will appear in court next at a status hearing in Perkins County Jan. 26 at 11:30 a.m. He has pled not guilty to the charges.
    Arrested with Acuna and Mann in April was Jeffrey Lytle, who lives in Hamlet. He was arrested by Hayes County authorities and had been held in the Lincoln County Jail in North Platte.