Kearney, NE- A local man will serve at least six-and-a-half years in prison for his role in a child abuse case and subsequent manhunt from 2023.

In Buffalo District Court Thursday, 26-year-old Jacob Ellingson was sentenced to eight to 20 years prison, with credit served for 511 days.

Ellingson will serve time for two counts including criminal attempt-child abuse resulting in serious bodily injury, which is a Class IIA Felony, and Intentional Child Abuse, which is a Class IIIA Felony. 

Judge John Marsh sentenced Ellingson to eight to 20 years in the first count and one to three years in the second count. The sentences will be served concurrently of one another.

In December, Ellingson pleaded no contest in exchange for a lesser sentence on count one; he was originally charged with Child Abuse Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury, a class IIA felony, but was lowered to a class II felony in addition to "Criminal attempt" being amended to the charge after his plea. 

Kearney Police originally received a report of a one-year-old girl having trouble breathing while on the way to a local hospital, and was eventually flown by medical helicopter to Children’s Hospital in Omaha.

Jacob then went on the run with the help of his father after a warrant for his arrest was issued.

Judge Marsh sentenced 55-year-old Clint Ellingson to 60 days in jail and two years probation on Dec. 20. The state dropped one count and lowered the other to misdemeanor false reporting as part of a plea deal.