VALENTINE, Neb. — Two Valentine men have been sentenced in separate Cherry County cases involving child enticement and assault.

In the first case, 68-year-old Steven Garwood was sentenced to 53 to 90 days in jail for using an electronic device to entice a juvenile. As part of a plea agreement, Garwood pleaded guilty to felony enticement by electronic communication device, and a misdemeanor charge of contributing to the delinquency of a child was dismissed.

According to court documents, a Nebraska State Patrol investigator observed a Child Advocacy Center interview at Bridge of Hope in North Platte, where a teenager reported that Garwood sent them sexually explicit images of himself. The juvenile said they were concerned for the safety of other kids and mentioned that about eight juveniles associated with Garwood and sometimes worked for him. The teen also told investigators that Garwood asked for explicit images and provided the youth with vapes, cigarettes, and alcohol.

In addition to jail time, Garwood is required to register as a sex offender.

In a separate case, 27-year-old David Lopez of Valentine was sentenced to 62 days in jail for assault causing bodily injury. He received credit for the 62 days he already served.

According to court documents, law enforcement responded to a call at Littles Trailer Court on July 4 after dispatch received a 911 call from a woman screaming for help. A man then took the phone and said everything was fine before hanging up. Dispatch received a second 911 call from the same woman, who said a man was trying to kill her and that she had locked herself in a room.

When an officer arrived, he reported hearing a woman screaming and a man yelling, “I’m going to kill you.” The officer announced his presence over the patrol vehicle’s speaker, prompting both Lopez and the woman to exit the home.

The woman had a rope tied around her neck and visible rope burns and bruises. She told officers that Lopez had tried to kill her and was taken by ambulance to the hospital.