Lisa Nowak Makes Plea Deal in Kidnapping Case

Lisa Nowak, the former astronaut arrested in an attack against her romantic rival, has agreed to a plea agreement that will keep her out of jail.

Nowak, 46, was charged with attempted kidnapping after a Feb. 5, 2007, altercation with Colleen Shipman, who was dating Nowak’s ex-boyfriend Cmdr. William A. Oefelein.

Nowak admits that she drove from Texas to Florida to confront Shipman about the relationship. Although she claims she just wanted to talk, prosecutors accused her of spraying Shipman with pepper spray in an attempt to kidnap her. After pleading guilty to lesser charges of burglary and misdemeanor battery, Nowak was sentenced to one year of probation and 50 hours of community service. She was also ordered to stay away from Shipman.

In an emotional plea to the court, Shipman described the emotional toll the attack took on her. “She was going to kill me,” Shipman said, her voice breaking. “I could see it in her eyes.”

Shipman said that the attack – and the resulting media whirlwind – damaged her health, career and emotional well-being. Nowak faced Shipman in court and said that she was “sincerely sorry” for the attack.

Nowak will return to her Texas home where she lives with her husband and two children. Shipman lives with Oefelein in Alaska.

Nowak told the judge that it would be “no problem” to stay away from her ex-boyfriend and Shipman. As she told Shipman: “I hope we can both move forward from this.”

taken from:

Tags: bill oefelein, colleen shipman, lisa novak, lisa nowak, lisa nowak sentence, nowak