Fillmore County sheriff officially charged with DUI

Steve Julich was also charged with refusal of a preliminary breath test and a chemical test.

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Fillmore County Sheriff Steve Julich has officially been charged with driving under the influence, according to court documents.

Seward County Sheriff’s Deputy Steve Schulz gave his account of the events of March 20 in an arrest affidavit that was filed the next day.

According to the affidavit, Deputy Anthony Gann initially responded to a crash on 140th Road south of Alvo Road shortly before 6 a.m.

He found a vehicle in the ditch and Julich in the back seat with the vehicle running and still in drive.

Gann smelled alcohol on Julich, who then told him that he had been drinking.

Gann tried to give Julich a standardized field sobriety test and a preliminary breath test, but he refused, according to the affidavit.

Afterward, Gann requested Schulz’s assistance.

Gann informed Schulz that Julich was a law enforcement officer and a former co-worker of his.

Schulz then approached Julich and saw vomit on his clothes and on the driver’s seat.

Julich told Schulz that he had been drinking with friends in Lincoln and that two people had left with him from the bar, according to the affidavit.  Julich was asked whom he left the bar with but said he didn’t know the people.

In the affidavit, Schulz said the front passenger seat and about half of the rear bench seat were full of personal belongings, which wouldn’t allow room for three passengers.

Schulz asked Julich to take a preliminary breath test, which he again refused.  He told Schulz that he was not going to do anything asked of him, according to the affidavit.

Schulz said he then arrested Julich based on his and Gann’s observations and that he had been in control of the vehicle.

On the way to the Seward County Jail, Schulz asked Julich if he would submit to a chemical test, and he refused again.

Julich was charged with DUI, refusal of a preliminary breath test and a refusal of a chemical test.

Julich has been with the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office for 17 years and was sworn in as interim sheriff in November.  He is running for a full term as sheriff this year.

A tentative court date has been set for April 20.