A 27-year-old Ord woman was found guilty Monday in Dawson County District Court of attempted violation of the Nebraska Insurance Fraud Act involving a loss between $500 and $1,500, a Class II misdemeanor.
Makayla Ekross was originally charged with felony insurance fraud.
During the hearing, Deputy Dawson County Attorney Corey Burns said the incident occurred March 11, 2024, when Ekross was traveling through Dawson County on Interstate 80 and was involved in a motor vehicle accident that was determined to be her fault. Burns said Ekross did not have auto insurance at the time of the crash and used an electronic device at the scene to apply for coverage.
Burns said Ekross misrepresented the time of the accident to the insurance company, stating it occurred after she applied for coverage, when it had actually occurred beforehand. The misrepresentation resulted in a financial loss to the insurance company.
District Judge Chawnta Durham found Ekross guilty of the reduced charge. Both prosecutor and defense attorneys waived a pre-sentence investigation and agreed to a joint sentencing recommendation of a $500 fine and restitution totaling $1,191.86.
Sentencing is scheduled for July 6, 2026, at 2:30 p.m.
