The man convicted of misdemeanors for throwing fish around a newly opened Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles service center in Lincoln's Highlands neighborhood last May has been sentenced to a year in jail.
Joseph Schrader, 34, wasn't interested in probation, which Lancaster County Court Judge Matt Acton said limited his options to a fine or county jail sentence.
Even if Schrader had wanted probation, his lengthy criminal record didn't make him a good candidate, Acton said.
In December, a jury found Schrader guilty of criminal mischief for causing $3,300 damage and disturbing the manager's peace for the incident May 17 that lasted about a minute.
Schrader, a veteran, had gone to the office earlier that day and for years had been trying to get his driver's license renewed, but DMV officials refused, saying they couldn't prove he was a citizen, despite the fact that he served in the U.S. Marine Corps.
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Frustrated, he returned, raised his voice and threw two fish filets and carrots around the room.
Lincoln police say that when they found him a block away, smelling strongly of fish, Schrader said “something fishy was happening” at the DMV.
Schrader denied damaging anything. But the jury found him guilty.
At sentencing Friday, his attorney, Bill Chapin, said the whole situation arose out of his anger and frustration with the DMV, which ultimately realized they'd made a mistake.
Schrader, 34, got his license while he was in jail in the case.
Chapin said there's no question his client's response wasn't appropriate, but the DMV's actions meant Schroeder couldn't get a job, a place to live or other benefits, which affected his medical issues.
Schrader apologized for “having to go there twice that day.”
He said it took him having to go to the point of taking two small fish to the DMV office to get his license back.
“And then I'm still in trouble,” Schrader said.
Deputy Lancaster County Attorney Don Staggs said he understood Schrader's frustration, but he caused damage to the DMV during a time he had been out of jail on bond on another case and since has been accused of more crimes.
In the end, Judge Acton said: “Mr. Schrader, I'd like to do something to help you, but when you're so unwilling to participate it doesn't really give this court many options.”
And he sentenced Schrader to a year in the county jail on charges of criminal mischief and disturbing the peace.
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