Brown County District Court

• A felony domestic assault charge was filed March 5 for Matthew A. Penkert, 26, 200 E. 3rd St., Hanska. According to court documents, the Brown County Sheriff’s Office got a phone call from a woman at her residence, 200 3rd St. E in Hanska regarding an assault that happened earlier in the day. The woman said her live-in boyfriend, Penkert, grabbed her by the back of her hair, around her throat and threw her to the floor before he left for work at Tony Downs Foods in Madelia.

The woman was transported to the Brown County Jail where a deputy photographed marks on her neck. The woman said the assault began after she looked through Penkert’s cell phone and did not like some of the content and tossed the phone back to him. He began very angry and grabbed her and forced her face down to the floor.

The deputy contacted Madelia Police for help in arresting Penkert at his work place, which was done without incident. Penkert was convicted of stalking-intent to injure Nov. 12, 2019 in Brown County Court, and a threats of violence charge Aug. 31, 2020. Both convictions are qualified, domestic offenses.

Penkert bailed out of jail. His bail was set at $40,000 without conditions, $5,000 with conditions. An initial court appearance was set for 8:30 a.m. March 16.