Bismarck Tribune

By VIRGINIA GRABy VIRGINIA GRANTIER

Leo Zins, a Raleigh man who used a stun gun on Barbara Zins, his ex-sister-in-law - and then chased her and zapped her again - was sentenced Monday to 30 days in jail for misdemeanor simple assault, said Jim Vukelic, assistant state's attorney for Grant County.

South Central District Judge Gail Hagerty also sentenced Roger Zins of Raleigh, who is Barbara Zins' ex-husband, to 20 days in jail for misdemeanor criminal trespass.

After Leo Zins used the stun gun on her, in the 2005 incident, Barbara Zins suffered from convulsions and a high heart rate, and was taken by ambulance to a Bismarck hospital, treated and released, Vukelic said.

Vukelic said the incident occurred after she gave Leo Zins permission to come to her farmstead, north of Raleigh, to pick up machinery that had been stored there with her permission.

Leo Zins drove in on a tractor and his brother, Roger Zins, drove in at the same time in a different vehicle.

Zukelic said that when Barbara Zins recognized Roger Zins, who wasn't welcome on the property, she asked Roger Zins to leave. He told her he was only there to assist Leo Zins. Barbara Zins then told Leo Zins he would have to come back another time when Roger Zins wasn't with him.

Vukelic said Leo Zins responded by jamming the stun gun into her side and "zapping her."

"She ran away from Leo. He chased her and zapped her again,"Vukelic said. Barbara Zins then ran into her house and called 911.

Vukelic said that because Barbara Zins' heart rate was so fast, concerned medical personnel had a Bismarck ambulance meet the Carson ambulance half-way to administer intravenously the needed medication.

Vukelic said Leo Zins explained in court that he kept the taser for self defense when he was an over-the-road trucker.

Vukelic said Leo Zins didn't explain in court why he would have brought the taser with him on his tractor during an errand to pick up machinery.

The two men, both in their 50s, also were ordered to pay $250 each in fees and court costs, Vukelic said.

(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier at 250-8254 or at virginia.grantier@;bismarcktribune.com.)