Olzweski sentenced for assaulting deputy

Candace Olzweski has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an incident on Sept. 17, 2022, during which she assaulted Eddy County deputy Bennett Suave after breaking out of her handcuffs.

Olzweski pleaded guilty to simple assault of a police officer, criminal mischief, criminal trespass and preventing arrest or discharge of other duties. The disorderly conduct charge against her was dismissed.

On Dec. 15, Olzweski was handed $560 in various fees and fines, and sentenced to 30 days confinement with credit for 10 days already served.

Eddy County State’s Attorney, Ashley Lies, told the Transcript on Tuesday that Olzweski had until Friday, Jan. 6 to provide proof she’s hooked up to electronic monitoring. If she does, she’ll be allowed to serve those 20 days at her home. If not, she’ll be required to serve her time at the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center.

It was unknown if Olzweski had provided that proof as of press time on Thursday.

A date for the trial of Shannon Brandt, accused of murdering 18-year-old Cayler Ellingson in September last year, has officially been set.

After being accused of purposely running over and killing Ellingson in the early morning hours of Sept. 18, Brandt pleaded not guilty to the two charges against him, including Felony AA murder, setting the stage for an eventual jury trial.

Several weeks later, on Thursday, Dec. 29, the date of that jury trial was placed on the calendar.

During a scheduling hearing over Zoom, District Court Judge Bradley Cruff, Foster County State’s Attorney Kara Brinster, and Defense Attorney Mark Allan Friese, were in agreement that May 30 would be an acceptable date for the trial to begin.

Both the prosecution and defense also agreed the trial should be expected to last about two weeks. And with that, Judge Cruff approved a jury trial to take place from Tuesday, May 30 through Friday, June 9.

Friese suggested that a motion will be forthcoming to have the trial moved out of Foster County, but no decision was made regarding location at the Dec. 29 scheduling hearing.

Following the trial date being set, Friese also asked the Judge to amend Brandt’s bond conditions to let him return to his home for four hours per month to collect mail and maintain his home, as well as to allow him to travel to Clay County, Minnesota for maintenance on his electronic monitoring device.

State’s Attorney Brinster said she was fine with Brandt traveling to Minnesota, but objected to him getting four hours per month to return home. Brandt is currently under house arrest at the home of a family member.

Judge Cruff agreed with Brinster, and amended the conditions of Brandt’s release to stipulate that he may travel to Minnesota for maintenance on his electronic monitoring device, but did not grant Brandt’s wish to return home for four hours per month.