Chief's lawyer has 30 days to submit appeal brief

During a 3-minute court hearing on Friday, a deadline was set for the submission of a brief appealing a 30-day jail sentence handed down last month to Sidney Police Chief B.J. Wilkinson.

Attorney Thomas Sonntag, who is representing Wilkinson, now has 30 days to submit a written document appealing the jail term ordered by County Court Judge Paul Wess after Wilkinson pleaded no contest to a single misdemeanor charge of obstructing governmental operations was excessive.

Assistant Nebraska Attorney General Doug Warner, who has been appointed a special prosecutor in the case, will then have one...