Plea bargain reduces charges for April incident

A plea bargain was agreed to in the State of Nebraska’s case against Roman Maes on Monday. Maes had initially been charged with “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily injury to a peace officer while such officer was engaged in the performance of his official duties.”

Originally Maes was also booked in the Cheyenne County Jail with third-degree assault and resisting arrest.

This week he voluntarily pleaded guilty in Cheyenne County Court to a Class I Misdemeanor of resisting arrest and was ordered probation for 12 months, with five of those days being spent in jail. He also is required to pay a $250 fine.

Maes also pleaded guilty to a Class III Misdemeanor of disturbing the peace, which resulted in a $100 fine.

The event occurred on April 1 when Sidney Police Officer Jim Bush received a report of an assault in progress at Frenchman Valley Coop., according to Cheyenne County Court documents.

Bush wrote in his report that he approached Maes’ brother in front of a rust-colored Chevy Cobalt while Sidney Police Officer Curtis Hofrock made contact with Roman, who was sitting in the back of the car on the driver’s seat side.

Since it was not verified in the documents whether or not the driver of the vehicle was a minor, names of others in the vehicle will be withheld.

According to the report, Maes had been picked up by his brother on his lunch break and the vehicle was eastbound on Illinois when his brother asked him about some “missing money.”

“Roman got irate and attacked (his brother) in the front seat,” said Bush in the report.

His brother received two scratch marks from the incident on his left cheek that drew blood, a scratch on his right ear that had begun bleeding, and his right arm was bleeding – which the brother blamed on stitches that had just been taken out.

“(Maes’ brother) advised (the driver) to stop the car,” according to Bush’s report.

Roman then proceeded to get out of the car.

When his brother called police, Roman began throwing rocks at and into the car.

Officers photographed rocks on the dashboard, but no visible damage occurred, according to the report.

“(Maes’ mother) advised she doesn’t know what is wrong with her son, he just went berserk,” according to Bush’s account.

Roman opened the door and stepped out of the vehicle upon request and was advised that he was under arrest for assault.

“He advised no he wasn’t and pushed me and tried to run away,” said Bush in the report.

Both Hofrock and Bush pushed Roman against the vehicle.

“Roman grabbed me by the throat briefly and started throwing elbows, hitting Officer Hofrock in the mouth, knocking off his glasses.”

Maes was then taken to the ground and handcuffed by Officer Hofrock and put into the patrol car.

Hofrock suffered from a hurt lip and Bush had minor scratches on both legs.

Maes’ defense council, Kristine Cecava, called the time that Maes had spent in jail “a wakeup call” for him.

She called the situation initially just a fight between two brothers over a small amount of money.

Cecava said that the probation ordered made sense and that Maes realized what he needs to do and welcomes the guidance and time to restructure his life.

She said that he was sorry for what he did and that he hopes to save up enough money to move to Colorado. She also said that he was recently released from the military and was readjusting to civilian life.

Along with the probation period, Judge Randin Roland required Maes to write apology letters to his brother, his mother, Officer Hofrock and Officer Bush.

The letters are to be pre-approved by a parole officer and are to be sent within 30 days of his sentencing.

Vannatter

Parole Denied

Staff at the Sidney Sun-Telegraph was informed this morning by Cynthia Sutton that Gary Vannatter Sr. was denied early parole at his hearing this Wednesday, and that he will not be returning to the Sidney area, as he outlined to the parole board in his plans after release, any time soon.

Sutton called the Nebraska Board of Parole “exceptional,” and said that two of the board members said that if parole had been granted, they would not let him return to the area - which would put him in close proximity to the victim.

Sutton said that Vannatter will be required to re-apply for a parole hearing next April if he wishes.