Karen Geisler, (Buffalo County Jail, Courtesy)
KEARNEY — A Kearney woman sentenced to consecutive terms in prison for manslaughter has sought an appeal through the Nebraska Court of Appeals.
Karen Geisler, 57, had initially been charged with second degree murder, a Class 1B felony and use of a firearm to commit a felony, a Class 1C felony.
As part of a plea agreement, the murder charge was amended to manslaughter and attempt of a Class 1 felony. Geisler pleaded no contest to the amended charges. A no contest plea is neither an admission nor denial of guilt, but the plea is treated the same as a guilty plea.
On Oct. 24, Buffalo County District Court Judge Patrick Lee sentenced Geisler to 20 to 40 years for the manslaughter charge and between 11 to 15 years for the second count.
Lee ruled that the sentences would be consecutive, Geisler was given credit for 270 days already served.
On Nov. 21, Geisler’s public defender filed an appeal with the Nebraska Court of Appeals. No future court date has been set in the case.
The affidavit detailing the support for continued detention has been sealed by the state.
According to a press release from the Kearney Police Department, on Oct. 20, at 2:10 p.m., officers responded to the report of a shooting at 1815 7th Ave.
“Officers immediately located the suspect outside and she was taken into custody. At the same time, the victim was located inside and Officers provided emergency first aid until the scene was safe for the paramedics to enter the residence,” per the KPD.
“The victim was identified as a 62-year-old male from Kearney who also lives at that residence. The victim was transported to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital with life threatening injuries,” per KPD.
On Oct. 25, the KPD stated that the 62-year-old male had died while in the ICU at CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney.
