Sara Pientka
STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – A woman charged in connection with the death of her sister was sentenced at the Portage County Courthouse.
Sara Pientka pleaded guilty to five misdemeanors related to the death of her sister Jeannette last week.
Family members and friends of Jeannette Pientka took the stand, telling the court they believe Sara could have done more to save her sister but chose not to. “I am angry. I am heartbroken. I am confused. I am grieving in ways I never knew was possible,” a family member said. “But more than anything I am devastated by the fact that my aunt was left to die.”
“Every minute mattered while Jean bled out,” a family member said. “And every minute Sara did not call for help was a minute Jean could have been saved.”
After hearing from family members and friends, Judge Molepske addressed Sara directly about her behavior during the hearing. He said he did not believe Sara fully understood the seriousness of her actions.
“The court does not believe that you entirely understand the gravity of these offenses and how it’s affected your family and the people of Portage County,” he said. “You need supervision to protect the public, to address the gravity and ultimately to address your rehabilitatory needs. Miss Pientka you must grow up. You cannot be that little girl that’s described by the victim getting everything you want.”
The court sentenced Pientka to 120 days in jail, minus pre-trial credit, followed by three years of probation.
Portage County Dist. Atty. Louis Molepske said the judge crafted a sensible resolution.
“I think you know he ultimately went higher than the resolution that we had presented for probation,” Molepske said. “What the court put together has punishment in jail, rehabilitation in terms of probation but also has a lot of consequences if she’s not successful for resentencing and coming back to court.”
Comments