A former candidate to fill the Iowa Senate seat vacated by Joni Ernst has been sentenced to jail. The Daily NonPareil reports 69-year old Donald Brantz, of Glenwood, was sentenced Thursday to serve five days in jail for disturbing the peace in Sarpy County, Neb. He was given one day for time served.

Brantz was originally charged with third-degree sexual assault, third-degree assault, disturbing the peace and interfering with a public service company. After he pleaded no contest to disturbing the peace, Sarpy County prosecutors dropped the other charges.

According to court records, the charges against Brantz stemmed from an incident on Oct. 10, 2014, near 36th and Emiline streets in Bellevue, Neb. Prosecutors alleged that Brantz inappropriately touched an adult victim and threatened to choke her. When the victim called 911, prosecutors said, Brantz disconnected the phone line.

Brantz, a Libertarian and former Mills County Board member, was on the ballot in a special election Dec. 30 against two other candidates to fill Ernst’s District 12 seat.

(8-am News)