Wilkinson appeal hearing set for Friday

A hearing on the appeal of a 30-day jail sentence handed down to Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson is scheduled for Friday at 10:30 a.m. in the District Court of Cheyenne Court.

Wilkinson, who is on paid administrative leave, pleaded no contest on July 17 to a single misdemeanor charge of obstructing government operations.

While he was initially ordered to begin serving his jail term at the Cheyenne County Jail on Monday, Aug. 3, the appeal process has put that on hold. Wilkinson will not serve any time until a final decision on the appeal of the sentence is delivered.

Twelfth Judicial District Judge of the District Court Travis O’Gorman has been appointed to hear the case.

Cheyenne County District Court Judge Derek Weimer recused himself from the proceedings to avoid any perceived conflict of interest since Sidney Police Department officers regularly appear before him, a court document stated.

In late July, Sidney City Manager Gary Person said in a statement the city would have no comment on the case until the appeal process is completed.

“Chief Wilkinson has filed an appeal on the sentence, and the City will have no further response while any action is pending in district court. Currently, he is on administrative leave,” the statement read.

The case against Wilkinson stems from an incident that occurred 1 1/2 years ago. According to court testimony and documents, Wilkinson blocked a citation that had been issued to a high-ranking city official. A subsequent Nebraska State Patrol investigation turned up an email Wilkinson had written in 2014 in which he admitted to pulling the paperwork and not sending the file to the county attorney’s office.