The judge suspended Kurt Niekamp’s 18 months in prison and ordered him to serve 30 days in the Shelby County Jail. He was immediately taken into custody.

Niekamp was fined $300 plus court costs and placed on three years probation. The judge said that if Niekamp violates the terms of his probation, he will go to prison for 18 months.

In court, Niekamp said he was sorry and told the judge that he won’t see him in his courtroom again.

In April, Niekamp accepted a plea bargain instead of having his case go to trial.

He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of attempted failure to comply with a police officer’s order. A charge of felonious assault on a police officer was dismissed.

Niekamp was found by a trooper passed out behind the wheel of his car and intoxicated, said a police report.

Investigators said when the trooper tapped on Niekamp’s window, he woke up and sped away, striking the trooper.

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