Mike Hilgers

Nebraska Attorney General

Jerry Esch Guilty of Theft by Deception

Today, in Adams County District Court, former Hastings Police Officer Jerry Esch pled no contest to one count of theft by deception, a Class I misdemeanor.

In November 2015, Esch was a police officer with the Hastings Police Department. While employed with the Department, he created a GoFundMe page in which he asked for money to cover medical expenses he claimed to have incurred due to having cancer. While Esch did have cancer, he did not have the medical bills he claimed to have incurred. Many individuals donated money in reliance on Esch’s claims. He was ordered to pay $7,500 in restitution.