Man gets probation for ‘punching, kicking, and pistol-whipping’ woman

POCATELLO — A 54-year-old man was sentenced aft pleading blameworthy to beating and “pistol-whipping” a woman.

Allen John Wurzel, 54, was sentenced connected Aug. 12 by District Judge Robert C. Naftz to a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 8 years successful prison.

Naftz past suspended nan sentence, placing Wurzel connected probation for 7 years.

He will besides beryllium required to salary astatine slightest $1,145.50 successful tribunal costs and fines.

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Wurzel initially pleaded not blameworthy to 2 counts of felony aggravated battle pinch a deadly weapon, felony second-degree kidnapping, felony home artillery inflicting traumatic injury, and felony attempted strangulation.

On May 10, Wurzel accepted a plea agreement, agreeing to plead blameworthy to 1 count of felony aggravated battle and a felony enhancement for nan usage of a deadly weapon.

In exchange, nan prosecution dismissed each remaining counts. Both sides recommended Wurzel beryllium put connected probation and not beryllium released early until astatine slightest 5 years in.

Background

On March 7, tribunal documents show Pocatello Police officers responded to a study of a beingness disturbance astatine a location successful nan 4100 artifact of Chert Lane astir 6:30 a.m.

The caller told officers a man, later identified arsenic Wurzel, was successful her location pinch a gun, threatening to termination her.

Officers received a 2nd telephone from a witness, reporting Wurzel was successful nan victim’s location and holding a weapon to his ain head.

When officers arrived, 1 said pinch nan witnesser while others began staging adjacent nan beforehand doorway pinch ballistic shields. According to constabulary reports, officers could perceive yelling coming from wrong nan home, past nan beforehand doorway swung open, and a female came retired of nan location moving and screaming.

Wurzel followed nan female retired of nan location waving what officers picture successful reports arsenic a “derringer-style pistol.”

Officers demanded Wurzel driblet nan gun, which he did “after respective seconds of hesitation,” constabulary reports say.

Wurzel was placed nether apprehension and put successful nan backmost of a constabulary car while officers continued speaking pinch nan unfortunate and witness.

According to nan witness, he saw Wurzel deed nan unfortunate aggregate times and propulsion her to nan ground.

He added that while he was carrying his ain weapon astatine nan clip of nan incident, he decided not to usage it arsenic he did not judge Wurzel intended to usage his.

The witnesser told officers he tried to participate nan location down Wurzel and nan victim, but was forced retired by Wurzel. He said Wurzel pointed a weapon astatine nan witness, nan victim, and himself.

He past went extracurricular and called nan police.

The unfortunate told officers Wurzel tried to strangle her, wrapping his hands astir her pharynx and squeezing.

She said that erstwhile nan witnesser was forced retired of nan house, Wurzel held nan weapon to his ain head, past hers, saying, “I will termination you.”

The unfortunate said Wurzel besides slammed her caput into nan wall adjacent nan beforehand door. Officers recovered a spread successful nan wall accordant pinch nan victim’s telling of nan incident.

Officers besides noted injuries connected nan victim’s knees accordant pinch hers and nan witness’ reports of her falling arsenic she ran up nan driveway to get distant from Wurzel. She told officers that aft she fell, Wurzel dragged her into nan location by her hair.

The unfortunate told officers that passim nan struggle, she was punched, kicked, and pistol-whipped “repeatedly.”

Wurzel said pinch officers, claiming location had not been immoderate disturbance earlier they arrived. He was taken and booked into nan Bannock County Jail.