Geisler changes plea

PALMER -- Jason Geisler entered a plea of no contest on Monday to one count of first-degree robbery for his role in a January 2001 armed robbery and carjacking. A first-degree weapons charge was dismissed.

The last-minute plea agreement was reached as Geisler was scheduled to go to trial for the one-night crime spree, facing four charges of first

degree robbery and one first degree weapons charge. Along with his half-brother James McAnulty, Geisler was indicted on the charges in September of 2001. McAnulty entered a plea of no contest on Nov. 27, to a consolidated charge of first-degree armed robbery and received a 10-year prison sentence. A third defendant, Shannon Stenhoff entered a change of plea in June of this year and is scheduled for sentencing in Palmer Superior Court later this month.

Court documents reflect that Stenhoff claimed McAnulty forced him, with the threat of death, into committing crimes that night as a part of a gang initiation process. A short while after the robbery, Geisler allegedly fired a gun in the air after waving down a car, then reportedly participated in robbing the occupants of the car and stealing the car itself.

According to court records, Geisler was arrested the next day after a high-speed

pursuit. Geisler is scheduled to be sentenced in Palmer Superior Court on March 2.