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Nebraska man is sentenced in fatal Iowa hit-and-run

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August 11th, 2016 by Ric Hanson

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — A Nebraska man has been sentenced to 30 days in jail for a fatal hit-and-run in western Iowa. The Council Bluffs Daily Nonpareil reports 44-year-old Tracy Peniska, of Omaha, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a felony count of leaving the scene of a fatal crash and a misdemeanor count of obstruction.

Peniska was given the jail sentence for the obstruction count. He got two years’ probation for the felony count, but faces up to five years in prison if his deferred judgment on that count is revoked. Police say Peniska hit and killed 29-year-old pedestrian Brett Jensen on March 9. Police say Peniska reported his car stolen to Omaha police later that night, but soon admitted he made up the stolen-car story.