State Nebraska v. Carlos Valdez

Defendant, Carlos Valdez, was charged in Scotts Bluff County with intentionally distributing, delivering, or dispensing cocaine
on January 9, 1990, in violation of Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-416(1)(a) (Reissue 1989). After jury trial, defendant
was found guilty. After a presentence investigation, defendant was sentenced to 4 to 7 years' imprisonment. He timely appealed
to this court, assigning as error the actions of the trial court in (1) failing to grant defendant's motion for a continuance
of the trial, (2) failing to grant defendant's motion for mistrial, and (3) imposing "an unreasonable sentence under the circumstances."
We affirm. In connection with defendant's contentions concerning the trial court's refusal to grant a continuance, the record shows
the following: On January 30, 1990, defendant appeared in the county court. The complaint was read to him, and the county
court, "satisfied that he indigent," appointed the public defender to represent defendant. Defendant's bond was set at $50,000,
and the preliminary hearing was set for February 9.