Steele City Man Accused of Sending Two Deputies to the Hospital

A Steele City man accused of sending two law enforcement officers to the hospital has had one of his charges dismissed but three remaining charges stand and his case has been bound over the District Court. According to the court file, the date of the alleged incident is April 21, 2024. However, portions of the court file are sealed and information available is limited. Trevor S. Pingel, age 40, appeared in Jefferson County Court in the custody of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Linda Bauer was the presiding judge. Pingel was charged with third degree assault on a peace officer, a class 3A felony punishable by up to three years of imprisonment, 18 months of post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine; terroristic threats, also a class 3A felony; disturbing the peace, a class 3 misdemeanor punishable by up to three months imprisonment and a $500 fine; and resisting arrest, a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by up to one year imprisonment and a $1,000 fine. Defendants facing felony charges are entitled to a preliminary hearing to determine if there is probable cause that a felony took place. According to the testimony of Deputy Amanda Schaefer, on April 21, 2024, the Jefferson County Sheriff's office were dispatched to the park in Steele City in response to multiple calls about Trevor Pingel causing a disturbance. Deputy Schaefer testified the calls said Pingel was, “running around the park, yelling and screaming, acting irrational.” The deputy testified that, at one point, Pingel was standing atop a dirt hill, four to five feet above street level. One deputy was going up the hill, trying to arrest Pingel. The deputy ended up being treated at a hospital. The defendant reportedly resisted being placed in handcuffs. During the altercation, another deputy received broken ribs. That deputy was also sent to a hospital. Deputy Schaefer also testified that deputies had been called out twice before on that day regarding Pingel. The basis for the terroristic threats charged was a rope allegedly thrown up into a tree by Pingel.Pingel is represented by attorney Benjamin Murray, who told the court, “I do no think this rises to probable cause for terroristic threats.” Judge Bauer agreed and dismissed the charge. However, the other charges were allowed to stand.Murray asked for a bond review on behalf of his client. The bond had been set at $20,000 (10 percent). Murray indicated his client was unable to pay and asked for a reduction. County Attorney Joseph Casson noted the bond had already been reduced previously and opposed any further reduction. Casson said, “Mr. Pingel poses a risk to society when he consumes alcohol.”Judge Bauer declined to reduce the bond, saying, “It's not an unreasonable bond for a class 3A felony.”The case was then bound over the District Court. This is not Pingel's first run in with the law. On March 12, 2020, he was sentenced in Jefferson County District Court to 24 months of probation. The defendant Pingel was originally charged with the manufacture or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a class 2 felony punishable by one to 50 years in prison; possession of a deadly weapon (a knife) by a prohibited person, a class 3 felony that carries a possible penalty of four years' incarceration, followed by nine months to two years post-release supervision and a $25,000 fine; possession of methamphetamine, a class 4 felony that carries two years incarceration, nine to 12 months post-release supervision and a $10,000 fine; and a charge of habitual criminal, a felony which can be used to enhance penalties. In accordance with the plea Agreement, Pingel pleaded No Contest to a reduced charge of attempt of a class 3 felony, which is a class 4 felony. The remaining charges were dismissed.

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