Estherville, IA (KICD) — An individual formerly employed as a police officer in Estherville and Armstrong has been given a suspended jail sentence after a plea deal. Benjamin Scheevel was originally charged with 85 counts by the state of Iowa including perjury, stalking with a dangerous weapon, and assault while displaying a dangerous weapon.

Scheevel offered either guilty or alford pleas to eight of the charges in an arrangement accepted by the state. Two of the counts could have incurred a 5 year prison term; and the other five 2 year terms.  On Monday Judge Carl Petersen waived jail time, but did place Scheevel on probation. He was also ordered to pay court costs and several thousand dollars in fines.

Our KICD archives indicated Scheevel was arraigned in April of 2022 with the alleged crimes occurring in a span of time from January 2016 through April of 2019.