KEARNEY — A Kearney man originally charged with first-degree sexual assault has entered a no contest plea to amended charges in Buffalo County District Court, with sentencing now scheduled.
Jason Gundersen, 43, appeared for a final plea hearing on April 17, where he pleaded no contest as part of a plea agreement. Under the agreement, charges of first-degree sexual assault, obstructing a peace officer, and criminal mischief were dismissed.
Gundersen had initially faced multiple charges, including first-degree sexual assault, assault by strangulation or suffocation, first-degree false imprisonment, third-degree domestic assault causing bodily injury, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer, and criminal mischief.
A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt but is treated as a guilty plea for sentencing purposes.
Sentencing is set for June 5 at 2:30 p.m.
Court records indicate the affidavit for continued detention in the case has been sealed. However, the criminal complaint alleges Gundersen subjected an intimate partner to non-consensual sexual penetration on Sept. 4 at a location along Highway 30 in Kearney.
The complaint further alleges Gundersen impeded the victim’s breathing, restrained them, and caused bodily injury. The case represents a second domestic violence-related offense for Gundersen, who was previously convicted on Sept. 18, 2023.
Gundersen was arrested and booked into the Buffalo County Jail on Sept. 4.
