2 South Dakotans make deal in Nebraska trooper shooting case

MINDEN, Neb. (AP) — Two South Dakota men accused of shooting at a Nebraska state trooper have made plea deals.

Authorities say 23-year-old Aleksandr Voznyuk, of Sioux Falls and 19-year-old Petr Strizheus, of Harrisburg had fired at the trooper during a Kearney County vehicle chase in January. The officer was not hurt, but his cruiser was hit once.

The Kearney Hub says the two originally were charged with eight counts each, but that was reduced to three this week. Both pleaded no contest to unlawful discharge of a firearm and of attempted first-degree assault on an officer. Both charges carry a maximum penalty of 50 years in prison.

Strizheus also pleaded no contest to operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest. And Voznyuk pleaded no contest to a weapons charge.

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