Steele City Man Arrested for Assault on Officer
A Steele City man was arrested for assaulting a law enforcement officer.
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 to the public about the incident is limited.
Trevor S. Pingel, age 40, appeared in Jefferson County Court via webcam from the Reception and Treatment Center of the Nebraska Department of Corrections in Lincoln on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Linda Bauer was the presiding judge.
Pingel is 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.
Pingel is represented by attorney Benjamin Murray, who asked for a bond review on behalf of his client. The bond had been set at $20,000 (10 percent). County Attorney Joseph Casson opposed any reduction and the bond was continued as set.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 12, 2024.
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.
