Kearney murder and attempted murder cases progressing through court system

KEARNEY, Neb. — A pair of high-profile court cases are progressing through the system in Buffalo County.

27-year-old Romeo Chambers appeared for a pretrial hearing on Tuesday. Chambers faces six felonies, including second-degree murder, for his role in the shooting death of Jared Shinpaugh in January 2022 in Kearney.

Defense attorney Tim Noerrlinger told the court that three depositions are scheduled for Oct. 28. After those, the parties will have a better idea if they’ll reach a plea agreement or need to go to trial. Noerrlinger requested that three separate cases against Chambers continue to be grouped together because a possible plea deal would involve all of the cases. If they go to trial, they would try the murder case first.

The court set a final plea hearing for Nov. 14.

23-year-old Chance Sanders appeared for a status hearing on Tuesday. Sanders pleaded guilty to attempted murder and a weapons charge on July 30. He is accused of stabbing a man at a Kearney apartment complex in late March.

Sanders, through his attorney, told the court that he received a mental health evaluation after making his plea deal. His attorney expects the doctor’s report to be filed within the next couple of weeks.

The judge set a sentencing hearing for Nov. 22.