Sentencing for Town of Harrison Man Convicted of Strangulation

CHILTON - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that a Town of Harrison man has been sentenced in Calumet County Circuit Court for strangulation.

Van Hollen said Calumet County Judge Donald A. Poppy withheld sentence and placed Shannon Konitzer, 27, on probation for three years.  The court ordered that Konitzer serve twelve months in jail as a condition of probation, with the second six months of jail time imposed and stayed. 

Konitzer had previously appeared in court on April 5, 2010, and entered a no contest plea to one felony count of strangulation.  An additional misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct  was be dismissed and read in at the time of sentencing.   Konitzer faced up to 6 years in prison and a fine of $10,000. 

According to the criminal complaint, in June, 2009, Konitzer became angry with his girlfriend, pushed her to the ground, and repeatedly applied pressure to her mouth and neck, causing the woman to have difficulty in breathing.   

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorney General Barbara Oswald as special prosecutor for Calumet County.