Citing a continuing need to protect the public, a Waupaca County judge is ordering an 11 year prison sentence for one of the men accused of running down deer with snowmobiles near the Town of Lind in 2009.
Circuit Judge Phil Kirk handed down the sentence Tuesday to 27-year-old Rory Kuenzi, who pleaded no contest to three counts of felony mistreatment of animals and two counts of illegally possessing deer. Several other charges were dismissed in the plea agreement.
The sentence is to run concurrent with a 23-year sentence Kuenzi is already serving for a 2004 hit-and-run homicide.
Assistant District Attorney Jim Fassbender asked for a seven-year sentence to be served after the current prison term is up, saying the court hit it “right on the head when it described him as a sociopath.”
Defense Attorney Troy Nielsen argued for a sentence of time served. However, Judge Kirk said the current sentence in the homicide case is being appealed and the 11 years for the deer slaughter would ensure Kuenzi is behind bars regardless of what happens there.
Cases are still pending against two other defendants for their involvement in the killing of five deer with snowmobiles.
AUDIO: Jack Barry reports (1:06)