Three individuals charged in the Annika Swanson murder will face preliminary hearings in January.
    At separate 10-minute arraignments Dec. 11 in Chase County Court, Judge Edward Steenburg set preliminary hearings Jan.10 for Kevin German, Keonna Carter and Russell Mann.
    German’s hearing will be at 10 a.m., Carter’s at 1 p.m. and Mann’s at 3 p.m., all in Chase County Court that day.
    About 25 people were in the courtroom for last week’s arraignments, including Annika Swanson’s parents, Monti and Cheryl of Imperial, and other relatives.
    Family members of the defendants were also present.
    State of Nebraska prosecutor Douglas Warner, lead prosector on the case, submitted amended complaints at last week’s hearings, dropping all but the first degree murder and kidnapping charges against German and Carter.
    The amended complaints filed just before the hearings continue the first degree murder charges. German is also charged with two kidnapping counts, while Carter now faces one kidnapping charge.
    In the original complaints, the pair had also faced false imprisonment, terroristic threats, assault and use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony charges.
    Chase County Attorney Arlan Wine said the other charges were dropped to simplify the case if it is presented to a jury.
    At last week’s hearings, each defendant was ushered into the courtroom separately by law officers. German was first, Carter second and Mann last.
    Judge Steenburg read each defendant the charges against them, and maximum penalties that could result if found guilty in a trial.

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