Garden County sheriff gets probation in domestic assault case

OGALLALA - Garden County Sheriff Michelle Quinn was sentenced to six months probation for misdemeanor domestic assault this week. She must also attend counseling and pay probation and drug testing costs. 

The 44-year-old Quinn was found guilty of third-degree domestic assault on Aug. 12.  

Court documents say Quinn and her girlfriend were traveling through Keith County when the two got in an argument about Quinn's alleged love interest in another woman. 

Evidence presented during the trial included an audio recording of a phone call made from Quinn's phone to a number associated with the Garden County Sheriff's Office during the argument.

According to court documents, Quinn's partner can be heard saying "I want out of the truck", "You hit me", "You punched me in my (expletive) face", "You broke my teeth" and "Hit me again (expletive)" in the recording.

Testimony from responding authorities and photographs showed Quinn's partner had abrasions on her neck and cheek and a cut lip as result of the incident. 

Quinn's partner testified Quinn did not cause her bodily harm. Steenburg said there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary. 

Both Quinn and her partner denied intentionally making the phone call. Steenburg wrote in his decision the call appeared to be a butt dial. 

Members of the Garden County Sheriff's Office overheard the argument. They and the Nebraska State Patrol were dispatched to find the pair. 

After locating them, the Nebraska State Patrol took over the investigation.