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- Leona Drullinger, a grandmother who contends the state of Nebraska unfairly reduced her visitation rights because she criticized a state agency, has been charged with two felonies.
Drullinger, 45, allegedly cashed bogus checks she says she received after applying for online employment offers, according to Lincoln Police officer Katherine Finnell.
According to police reports, the checks totaling $3,500 were cashed on two different days in mid-June.
Drullinger and her husband, Richard, have been trying to get custody of two grandchildren who are in foster care. The couple had either cared for the children or had consistent visitation with them for several years.
After the hearings on that case had ended, but before the judge ruled on the custody issues, the state Health and Human Services Department dramatically reduced the Drullingers' visitation.
Their attorney in the civil custody case alleged that the state reduced the visitation in retaliation for comments they made about the department during hearings on the custody issues.
Lincoln attorney Elaine Waggoner accused the department of child abuse for abruptly reducing the children's contact with the Drullingers.
But HHS leaders say they reduced the visitation because of safety concerns.
The state does not make the decision to limit visitation lightly, said HHS spokeswoman Kathie Osterman.
"Before we took that action, we had considerable discussion with them (the Drullingers) on concerns about safety."
State workers believed the Drullingers allowed their daughter, the mother of the children, to come to their house when the children were there, despite the fact the daughter was allowed supervised visits only.
"The police had also been called to the home to remove the daughter from the home," Osterman said. "The safety of our children is one of our paramount concerns.
She said state workers discussed options that would make visitation more likely, but said the Drullingers didn't want those options.
By not following the court order regarding the children's visits with their mother, Osterman said, the Drullingers were not ensuring the children's safety.
The court's decision on custody indicated the Drullingers had a history of financial setbacks, eviction and judgments against them, "a history of making poor decisions," Osterman said.
"We think these most recent felony charges highlight the poor judgment in decisions that were being made," she said.
In mid-July, Lancaster County Juvenile Judge Linda Porter decided neither the Drullingers nor their daughter should have permanent custody of the children.
The Drullingers' daughter has appealed that decision to the state Supreme Court, giving the grandparents access to the appeal process, according to Waggoner.
The Lancaster County Attorney's office rejected Leona Drullinger's request for pretrial diversion because the amounts of the alleged theft were too high, said Lancaster County Public Defender Dennis Keefe. He said he thought the county attorney's office didn't believe she could make the required restitution.
Leona Drullinger could not be reached for comment. She is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.
Mark "Sparky" Hays, age 59 of Woodston, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2020.
He was born on August 26, 1960, in Russell, Kansas, to Carl and Johnita (Cink) Hays-Haines. Sparky spent his life in Rooks County and graduated from Stockton High School in 1978. He was united in marriage to Leona Drullinger on April 3, 2015, at the Stockton City Park.
Sparky worked for the Pfeifer Recycle Center for many years before getting back into the agriculture field by helping local farmers and ranchers and working in the salvage. Sparky was a talented gardener, loved his pets, music, and spending time with his pals talking and watching sports, hitting golf balls behind his house, and drinking Keystone.
Sparky is survived by his wife, Leona Drullinger Hays of McCook, NE; brothers, Gerald (Sandy) Hays of Augusta, KS, and Glenn Hays of Larned, KS; and niece and nephew, Tiffany and Devon Hays.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Carl Hays and Johnita Haines; and step-father, Cecil Haines.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at 3:00 P.M. at the funeral home in Stockton. Interment will follow at the Pleasant Plain Cemetery in Osborne County.
Memorials are suggested to Mark Hays Memorial Fund to help with funeral expenses and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 North First, Stockton, KS 67669.
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1962 - 2022 (59 years)
