Pair is sentenced for Imperial restaurant burglary, break-in

    Sentences were issued the end of June for two Imperial men charged in the break-in and burglary at Broadway Steakhouse earlier this year.
    At June 29 hearings before District Judge David Urbom, Michael K. Hatz, 19, was sentenced 300 days on two counts of burglary and 90 days for theft-unlawful taking, to be served concurrently.
    Bradley E. Pankonin, also 19, was sentenced to 18 months probation and ordered to pay $185 in restitution after being charged with one count of burglary and one count of theft.
    Chase County Sheriff Kevin Mueller said Hatz spent a total of 158 days in jail after he was allowed good time and credit for time served since he and Pankonin’s arrest in late January.
    County Attorney Arlan Wine said Hatz was initially jailed in North Platte because his father was working as a dispatcher/jailer in Chase County. He was later transferred back to the jail in Imperial.
    Wine said Pankonin received probation from the judge after Pankonin made the request.
    Originally, $75,000 bonds were set for both men after their Jan. 28 arrests. The break-in and missing money was reported Jan. 20 by a restaurant employee.
    Hatz’s bond was reduced to $15,000 and Pankonin was released on his own recognizance after Feb. 24 arraignments in Chase County District Court.
    A plea agreement reduced charges on both men for the burglary from felonies to misdemeanors. Hatz had two burglary charges, while Pankonin had one. Both were also charged with theft.