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Prison officials ordered to testify on sentences

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Five people who worked in Nebraska's prison system have been ordered to testify before a legislative committee investigating why hundreds of inmate sentences were miscalculated.

Lancaster County District Judge Stephanie Stacy issued the ruling on Friday. Stacy said their testimony can't be used against them in a criminal prosecution.

Three former employees and two current ones asserted their right to remain silent after they were subpoenaed to appear at a legislative hearing next week.

The former employees are George Green and Sharon Lindgren, who retired two weeks ago under threat of being fired, and Jeannene Douglass, who retired earlier. The current employees are Kyle Poppert and Kathleen Blum, who were both suspended.

The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating the erroneous sentences, but no charges have been filed.

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