A Furnas County District Court judge has denied an Arapahoe man’s motion for post-conviction relief in a child sexual assault case, rejecting all claims without an evidentiary hearing.
Paul Douglas Brooks was convicted by a jury in June 2023 and sentenced to 25 to 35 years in prison. He argued his trial and appellate attorneys were ineffective, raised issues regarding witness testimony, and sought a new direct appeal. The Nebraska Court of Appeals had previously affirmed the conviction and sentence in 2024.
The victim in this case was 15-years old at the time the sexual assault occurred in the basement of an Arapahoe home between September 21, 2019 and September 30, 2019. The trial was moved from Beaver City to Lexington due the small jury pool in Furnas County and the “pervasive” coverage of the William “Billy” Quinn trial previously held there.
In a June 9, 2026 order, District Court Judge Patrick Heng found the 67-year-old Brooks failed to show deficient performance by counsel or prove prejudice under the legal standard for ineffective assistance. The judge ruled many claims were procedurally barred because they were or could have been raised on direct appeal, while others lacked sufficient factual support. The court also determined the case did not qualify for a new direct appeal and concluded the record clearly showed the defendant was not entitled to relief, denying all claims without a hearing.
In a separate case, Brooks is scheduled to be sentenced July 30, 2026 in Furnas County District Court on a conviction of Felony Child Abuse. In April 2026, he pled guilty to Felony Child Abuse in a plea agreement. Original charges of two counts of First Degree Sexual Assault and one count of Third Degree Sexual Assault were dismissed.
In this case, Brooks was accused of a series of sexual assaults against his then stepdaughter, who was under 10 when the incidents began. The abuse was said to have occurred between June 13, 1998, and May 31, 2004, while Brooks lived with the child.
