KIMBALL -- A 44-year-old Gering woman was sentenced to a minimum of two years in state prison for felony possession with the intent to distribute. 

Crystal Cotant previously pled no contest to Class 2 Felony criminal attempt of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. 

In November 2023, a state trooper conducted a traffic stop in the City of Kimball where the driver was identified as Cotant.

According to the affidavit, “Cotant appeared to have bloodshot and watery eyes and was struggling to keep her eyes open during the initial conversation.” 

The trooper asked her to exit the vehicle and performed a search for weapons, after which he found a baggie with a large amount of what appeared to be methamphetamine.  

The affidavit states that she admitted the methamphetamine belonged to her and that she was in possession of a meth pipe with residue. The baggie and pipe were field tested positive for methamphetamine. 

The approximate weight of the suspected meth was 4 ounces. 

The trooper then conducted a standardized field sobriety test and noted significant impairment during all the tests. Cotant admitted she ingested approximately a gram of meth. 

In court on Tuesday, County attorney Mark Kovarik recommended a term of incarceration based on the significant history of drug use. 

Cotant’s lawyer Stacy Bach recommended probation. 

“She has been very cooperative with law enforcement,” Bach said. “She has two adult children, and both of her parents are involved in law enforcement. I think she’s in a place now where she's home and can complete probation whereas before she didn’t have the support system.” 

Judge Derek Weimer ultimately sentenced Cotant to a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years with credit for 34 days she previously served. The official term is left up to the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. 

“My concern is the amount that you had,” Weimer said. “That is not a user amount, that has to be accounted for, and it is something I take very seriously."