Nebraska lieutenant governor faces restraining order in family dispute

The sister of Nebraska’s lieutenant governor was granted a domestic-abuse protection order Monday after she accused him of physically threatening her during a family dispute.

Lt. Gov. Lavon Heidemann -- a Republican appointed by Gov. Dave Heineman in February 2013 -- is running to retain his office as part of a ticket with Republican gubernatorial candidate Pete Ricketts.

The protection order sought by Heidemann’s sister, Lois L. Bohling of Elk Creek, Neb., was granted by Johnson County District Judge Daniel Bryan after a hearing Monday morning, according to local media reports.

Bohling wanted to block Heidemann from contacting her or from visiting their disabled mother, Lola Heidemann, who was widowed after their father died in January 2013.

According to a petition Bohling filed with the court, Bohling and Heidemann have been struggling over how to divide their father’s property since at least October 2013.

Bohling said that in various disagreements over the last year, Heidemann had shouted at her husband and became angry with her during a phone call.

In one December incident, Bohling said, “Lavon became VERY angry and his anger was pointed at me. He was shouting at me and at one point raised up, and started to come over the table at me with a furor in his eyes, like a wild man, that scared me to pieces.”

Bohling said she began to avoid her brother after that, but had another run-in with him a few weeks ago, on Aug. 19, at their mother’s home.

Bohling, who said she has been her mother’s primary caregiver during the last five years, said that Heidemann became angry with her after he arrived and she began to talk about their mother’s medical care.

Bohling said Heidemann then charged at her with “hatred” in his eyes, grabbing her arms and “screaming” in her face.

“Now I am not just afraid but terrified of him. I feel scared because there is no way to know when or where he will erupt at me next,” Bohling wrote in her petition for an order of protection.

In a statement, Heidemann called the dispute “a private, legal family matter regarding disagreements resulting from my dad’s estate, as well as the best possible medical treatment for my mom.”

“I dispute much of my sister’s claims,” Heidemann said in the statement. “My immediate family has great support from the rest of our family, our church and our friends — we appreciate that support so very much in this difficult time, as we work toward a full resolution.”

A spokesman for Ricketts, Heidemann’s running mate for governor, could not immediately be reached for comment.

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