A former Omaha meteorologist and mayoral communications director is pleading "co contest" to charges filed against him related to threats made against Douglas County Health Director Dr. Adi Pour.
According to court documents, on Monday 57 year old Ronald "Gerard" Penzkowski entered the no contest plea for two misdemeanor third-degree assault charges. One of the charges was downgraded from “terroristic threats,” a Class 3A felony.
Penzkowski, who also goes by the name “Ron Gerard,” was initially jailed in March, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Investigators say Penzkowski sent more than a dozen “disturbing emails” threatening to lynch Dr. Pour or slit her throat for involvement in business closures due to the pandemic.
Penzkowski served as the communications director for Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle from 2009 to 2010 and was a meteorologist for KETV and KPTM in the 1980's and 90's.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on October 27th.