Under current law if a domestic or child abuser poses a “significant threat” by the court they are required to give up their firearms, according to Office of Justice Assistance spokesperson Tami Jackson. OJA announced four counties will receive $250,000 in federal stimulus funding to implement a new protocol developed by prosecutors, law enforcement and victims’ rights groups.

Until recently counties had no streamlined process to monitor and enforce the gun surrender according to Jackson.

Tami Jackson (:19)

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Jackson says the mandatory surrender law is meant to protect victims from harassment or harm by use of the weapon.

Outagamie, Sauk, Winnebago and Waushara counties will be taking part in the pilot program.

Testy partisan debate on spending money to keep convicted felons from reoffending. It came as the legislature’s finance committee debated a Department of Corrections request for ten million dollars. Republican state Representative Robin Vos said the money will go to “home coming parties for criminals,” and brought up the early release program included in the Democrat’s state budget bill to save money on corrections. “We have ten million dollars sitting right here that we could have used to make sure those same people who are already reoffending stay in jail. But no, we said it’s much more important to let them out, and then to pay for programming for prisoners, than it is to make sure we keep people locked up and the community safe,” said Vos.

But Republican Senator Luther Olson said the money to provide services to persons on probation, parole or extended supervision will help reduce the state’s high recidivism rate. “Sometimes you have to spend a little to save a lot,” said Olson. The money goes to the Becky Young Community Corrections program within the Department of Corrections, which is named after Madison activist and legislator Becky Young, who died last year. “We’re going to spend our dollars in a that it will reduce recidivism, said state Senator Lena Taylor.

 Bob Hague (1:10 MP3)  AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:10 MP3)

A Wausau-area babysitter who left children home alone twice last year is going to jail. Rhonda Piehl will serve seven months in the county jail for leaving the children unattended as she ran errands last April. “I can’t understand why great fear didn’t just overtake you because of what might happen in your absence,” said Marathon County Judge Greg Grau. “I don’t understand you.”

Piehl, who offered a short, tearful apology before sentencing, arguing that she never intended any harm and takes full responsibility for what she did. Parents told the judge Piehl violated their trust and left their children emotionally scarred with the fear of abandonment. Greg Grau said jail time is needed to send a message. “Anybody serving in the child care business needs to know that there is zero tolerance for anything remotely related to what you did.”

Matt Lehman, WSAU

Matt Lehman reports (:40 MP3) AUDIO: Matt Lehman reports (:40 MP3)

Madison area police are still looking for answers behind the deaths of three infants. The cases took place in Madison on Friday, and on Sunday in Sun Prairie and Reedsburg. Sun Prairie authorities have ruled out foul play. Reedsburg authorities say in their case, the three-month-old was found in bed with his parents after an early morning feeding. In Madison, foul play has not been ruled out just because their investigation is still ongoing. The official cause of death for each infant has not been released.

Contributed by WIBA news

It was a wild scene inside Clark County Circuit Court Monday, as a convicted killer was whisked off to begin his prison sentence. Tyler Meier was hoping to avoid prison time after pleading ‘no contest’ to felony murder-battery for landing the punch that caused 43-year-old Keith Young’s death.

Young and Meier were at the Brickyard Bar and Restaurant on February 1st of last year. Meier punched Young, he fell, apparently hitting his head on the floor. Young was hospitalized in critical condition from shortly after the assault, to the time of his death on February 3. Wood County Judge James Mason heard from a private investigator hired by the defense, who said he believed Meier should only receive probation. Sanders Englesgjerd said he believed Meier suffered from alcoholism, which led to his lengthy criminal record, but he believed he had changed his life.

But, Young’s widow, Amy, told the Court her family’s life had been forever altered by Meier’s actions. “He could have backed off and walked away, but he didn’t. Now, because of that, I’m a single mother of a 2-year-old child that has to face him every day and tell him that, because of somebody else’s actions, he can’t see his father anymore,” she said. Keith Young’s brother also addressed the court, explaining he felt the mere suggestion that Meier get off with probation was a “slap in the face” to his family.

Meier’s attorney Harry Hertel outlined a recommendation that Meier be sentenced to five years in prison, but the sentence be stayed; instead, Meier would served one year in jail, 8 years probation and pay child support to Amy Young’s child. An emotional Meier also addressed the court, saying he was extremely sorry for what happened. “The foolish choice of alcohol… always drinking, always drinking. You go to the well too many times, and you know what? The Devil’s there to get you,” Meier said. “I made wrong choices that night. Wrong choices.”

But, Mason said Meier has been on probation and served jail time, but he continued to re-offend. While alcohol was a major problem for the defendant, a light sentence would send the wrong message to both him and the public. “If it does impose probation, what does that tell everybody that goes into a bar? That if they get intoxicated…and they slug somebody, they go on probation? I go to jail for a year, maybe?” Mason reasoned. Mason sentenced Meier to 5 years in prison followed by 5 years extended supervision. Conditions of the supervision include paying child support to Young’s child until he reaches 18.

Mason ordered Meier to be taken into custody immediately, which touched off a commotion. Meier and his family members yelled that he’d be killed in prison. “They’ll kill me!” Meier shouted as he was led out of the courtroom.

Paul Knoff, WCCN

Racine Police have been busy the last few days. It started with the reckless homicide arrest of a 40-year old man for the battery-related death of his 24-year-old girlfriend’s 26-month-old son. The couple brought the unconscious boy to the emergency room of the hospital in Racine, but he could not be revived. The mother was arrested for THC possession and a retail theft commitment.

There was also the shooting death of the 41-year-old owner of a neighborhood market on the far southeast side of Racine.  Police responded to a series of shots and found the victim down in the store. The public is being asked for help in solving this crime.

Contributed by Tom Karkow-WRJN

As President Obama continues to push for a final agreement on a health care overhaul, violence advocates are applauding parts of the bill. Patti Seger, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Coalition against Domestic Violence, says in what appears to be the final legislation, additional screening and counseling will be available for victims. This includes a focus on treatment of domestic violence and prevention in the American Indian community.

Seger can’t say abuse is any more prevalent that among Native Americans but contends there are problems in that community.

Patti Seger (:35)

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Seger says the health bill also bars insurance companies from denying coverage to domestic violence victims. This will not affect Wisconsin which already has similar protections in place.

As many as 20 fires in Stevens Point over the last two years may be the work of a serial arsonist.

Police on Thursday put out a plea for help in tracking down the person or persons responsible for 20 suspected arson fires dating back to May 2008. Stevens Point Police and Fire Commission administrator Jeff Morris says there are no prime suspects or persons of interest at this time.

Morris says the fires have resulted in significant damage, but no major injuries.

Police are expected to step up patrols in the areas where the arsons have occurred, but Morris says neighbors should be on the lookout for suspicious people or activity.

A $5,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in the case.

AUDIO: Matt Lehman reports (:33)

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Legislation to create a statewide standard on where sex offenders can be placed was the subject of a Capitol hearing Thursday. The bill’s cosponsor, Merill Republican Representative Don Friske, said placing released sex offenders in communities is a hot button issue. “Each of us know, as representatives, there is nothing that fills a school auditorium quicker than trying to reintegrate a sex offender into your community,” Friske told the Assembly Committee on Corrections and the Courts. “As distastefully as I find that, and as troubling as a I find that, we’ll take ours, we don’t want yours.”

There are now more than one hundred such ordinances around the state, up from just 26 two years ago, and Friske said that trend could put communities which don’t enact such restrictions at a disadvantage. “Eventually you’re going to get to a point where your are isolating those communities and moving those sex offenders that require placement by Department of Corrections into areas that the offender’s not familiar with, but more importantly where the community’s not familiar with them.”

The bill (AB 759) prohibits local municipalities from creating ordinances to restrict placement of sex offenders by the Department of Corrections. One such ordinance is in Sheboygan, where Jim Gischia is Common Council president. “There’s been an awakening in our community, and our community now understands that previous policies or current policies have turned Sheboygan into an oasis for hundreds of sex offenders,” Gischia told the committee. Alderman Steve Olson of Franklin, the first city to pass such an ordinance, said his Milwaukee suburb was victimized by its larger neighbor and enacted the ordinance to protect itself. 

But should the state Department of Corrections be able to place released sex offenders in the communities where they offended, even if those communities object? State Representative Mark Gundrum isn’t so sure. “I’ve seen the Department of Corrections place a twice convicted child molester right next door to a home with seven young children,” said the New Berlin Republican. “I know that there are placement decisions that aren’t always perfect . . . we strive to do the best that we can,” said Melissa Roberts with the Department of Corrections, testifying in favor of the bill. “We feel that this (bill) will foster the communication on the local level, between our agents who are there in the community . . . and law enforcement.”

Bob Hague (1:10 MP3) AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:10 MP3)

No injuries following a chase down the Interstate Wednesday morning. Police in the Dane County village McFarland police were called for a domestic situation where a man reportedly took a woman at knifepoint. Dane County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Elise Schaffer said the long chase began at around 9:00 a.m. and eventually ended in Rock County, where metal spikes were used to slow down the suspect’s car. He and the woman did know one another, according to Shaffer, who said the woman wasn’t hurt. Investigators are still sorting out the details.

WIBA