Second arrest made after drugs, contraband thrown into Lincoln RTC’s yard

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) - A second person has been arrested after drugs and contraband were thrown into the Reception and Treatment Center in December of 2023.

According to court records, 27-year-old Donovan Youngman was charged with delivery of a controlled substance and unlawful acts in the department of corrections or conveyance of article to an inmate.

An investigator with the Nebraska State Patrol was made aware of several items found in the center’s yard on Dec. 28, 2023. The items included two tennis balls that had been painted white and four white socks.

Court documents said inside the items, authorities discovered 33.3 grams of marijuana, two cell phones, a phone charger, an ‘L’ shaped metal fitting, cigarettes and $1.28 in coins. Staff thought the tennis balls had been painted white to camouflage them in the snow.

Video surveillance showed someone walking up to the facility and making several throwing gestures around 4:35 a.m. that same morning.

Investigators reviewed phone communications from the facility between Dec. 28 and Dec. 30, and they discovered an inmate had spoken with three people, two of whom were identified as 31-year-old Kelly McCormack and Youngman.

The inmate used code words to discuss contraband being introduced into the prison, the investigator wrote.

One of the three people the inmate spoke with was interviewed in April. They told the investigator that the inmate had requested the items that were eventually tossed onto prison grounds and that he was willing to pay to get it done.

McCormack was then interviewed twice. He told the investigator that the two phones had been dropped off at his residence months prior to them appearing at the prison.

Investigators think McCormack purchased the marijuana and two cards to activate the phones before dropping off Youngman near the prison on the morning of Dec. 28. McCormack said he could see Youngman toss the items from where he parked, according to an arrest affidavit.

After the items were left at the prison, authorities think the Youngman took a bus out of Lincoln on Dec. 30, 2023.

Youngman’s bond is set at 10% of $250,000 and his next court date is on May 20.

McCormack’s bond was set at 10% of $5,000 in December of 2024.

Charges have not been filed for the third conspirator interviewed in April.

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