Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
FREMONT, Neb. (AP) — A former athletic director for Midland University who was accused of soliciting sex from students and threatening one has been sentenced to a year of probation.
Jason Dannelly was sentenced on Monday in Dodge County District Court, the Fremont Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/1qfMnc6 ). He'd pleaded no contest in February to two misdemeanor counts of attempted solicitation of prostitution. In exchange for the pleas, prosecutors dropped felony charges of pandering and terroristic threats and reduced the solicitation counts.
The 34-year-old Dannelly was Midland University's athletic director from August 2011 until his dismissal in December 2012. His attorney, Clarence Mock, said in court on Monday that the incidents occurred as Dannelly's marriage was disintegrating and that he was depressed. Mock said his client has accepted responsibility for his actions and has paid a heavy price with the loss of a promising career.
Judge Geoffrey Hall told Dannelly that he faces six months in jail if he violates the terms of his probation.
Prosecutors have said a student approached Dannelly in 2012, looking for work-study opportunities, but was told none was available. Instead Dannelly told the student he had a friend who was looking for someone to be with when his wife was out of town.
When the student didn't respond to several texts from Dannelly, prosecutors said, Dannelly went to the student's dorm and asked her whether she wanted to see a photo of his friend who would pay her for sex. Dannelly showed the student a picture of himself and handed her an envelope containing $300, prosecutors said.
A court affidavit says another student who had "minor trouble with the law" told police that Dannelly led her to believe he could help her stay on her team if she had sex with him. The affidavit says he threatened the student with harm if she told anyone.
___
Information from: Fremont Tribune, http://www.fremontneb.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
