Candidate Don Brantz Denies Sexual Assault Charge

Libertarian Party District 12 state senate candidate Don Brantz of rural Glenwood denies he sexually assaulted a woman in Nebraska.

Brantz, 69, is scheduled to go to trial Jan. 14 in Sarpy County on a misdemeanor sexual assault charge stemming from an Oct. 10 incident at a private residence in Bellevue. Brantz was also charged with disturbing the peace and interfering with the Public Service Commission, misdemeanors as well.

Brantz is opposing Republican Mark Costello and Democrat Steve Adams in the Dec. 30 special election to replace Joni Ernst in the state senate. Ernst resigned from the legislature after being elected to the U.S. Senate last month.

According to Bellevue Police, Brantz is accused of inappropriately touching a woman, threatening to choke her and disconnecting the telephone when she attempted to call 911. The alleged victim is the sister of a woman Brantz once had a relationship with.

Since news of Brantz’s arrest became public Thursday, the former Mills County Supervisor has granted interviews to several news media outlets, including The Opinion-Tribune. Brantz said he’s been advised by his attorney not to discuss the incident and prosecutors have said any comments he makes publicly could be used in the legal case against him. That hasn’t stopped Brantz from telling his side of the story.

“I want the truth to come out. I’m not afraid of it,” Brantz said. “Everybody thinks I’m guilty, pretty much. I may end up in jail, but you will find out the truth. You will find out there was no sexual activity.

“Ninety-five percent of the time, when a woman says something and a man says something, people believe the woman.”

Brantz said the Oct. 10 incident took place in a home occupied by his accuser’s mother, who is in her late 70s and home bound because of health issues.

Brantz said he’s interacted with the mother and her two daughters, both in their mid 40s, for about “four or five years.” His relationship with the accuser’s sister ended years ago, but Brantz said he’s continued to be involved with the family on a regular basis and has provided his physical assistance, transportation and up to $10,000 in financial support to the two sisters and their mother. Brantz said the family has dealt with health issues, financial hardship, legal woes and numerous other problems in the time that he’s known them.

“To them, I’m the farmer and they considered me their friend,” Brantz said. “If you’re a Christian, you try to help these people. I would periodically see how they’re doing. I told them, ‘Nobody, but nobody else would do this for you. I’m getting nothing out of this.’

“I spent  a lot of money on them, but probably the most out-of-pocket was directly to her (accuser). She got in trouble with the law, so I hired an attorney for her. They’re always in trouble for something.”

Brantz said the Oct. 10 incident occurred after he made it known he objected to the way his accuser was treating her mother. Brantz alleges his accuser instigated the altercation.

“I was attacked,” Brantz said. “When the police came, I wanted her arrested.”
Brantz said he’s been advised by friends and relatives to disassociate himself with the family, but he’s felt an obligation to help them out.

“I wanted to convert her (accuser) to Christianity,” Brantz said.

Brantz conceded the charges could have a negative impact on the support he receives in Tuesday’s special election, but he’ll continue to carry out his campaign.