by George Lauby (North Platte Bulletin) – 5/15/2012

Micheal Pappas will continue to serve out a tough probation sentence, despite a request for a reduction from the defense.

In court Tuesday, defense attorney Robert Lindemeier requested Pappas be released early from a sentence of five years of probation. Pappas has served four years.

“He’s done everything that has been asked of him,” Lindemeier said. “He’s lost a job opportunity because of it.”

Pappas, 47, could have faced life imprisonment plus 100 years for kidnapping and sexual assault of his ex-wife but, at the request of the victim, he was sentenced in June 2008 to five years of probation.

Pappas beat and sexually assaulted his ex-wife and threatened her with a shotgun. He briefly barricaded himself inside the house when police arrived.At the time, he was sentenced to intensive supervised probation for five years, electronic monitoring for 90 days, no alcohol or bars, attendance at AA a minimum of three times a week  of and no contact either directly or indirectly with his ex-wife, and to register as a sexual offender for 10 years.

County Attorney Rebecca Harling objected to the defense request to reduce probation by one year. She noted that there was a weapon involved in the crimes.

Lincoln County District Judge Richard Birch denied Lindemeier’s request.

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