Top Stories June 4th

McBride Bound Over


6/4/10 - Probable cause was found Thursday to bind over a Beaver Dam man on chares that he possessed child pornography. Jack McBride is charged with four felony counts, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison upon conviction. According to the criminal complaints, the 24-year-old used a roommates computer to download and save 14 images of children, some as young as five-years-old. McBride admitted to investigators that he received the pictures but says he was shocked by them as they were not the images he was trying to get. Authorities say he obtained the photos from a file sharing website and told the person who sent them that they were “nice.” An arraignment hearing is scheduled for the end of the month.

Frohmader Sentenced For Fleeing

6/4/10 - A Jefferson man who led deputies in Dodge County on a three mile, high-speed chase will spend three years on probation. In March, Justin Frohmader withdrew a plea of “not guilty by reason of insanity” and pled to a felony count of Fleeing and Eluding an Officer. According to the criminal complaint, the 28-year-old failed to pull over for a deputy in the Town of Emmet on Memorial Day weekend last year and sparked a chase that reached speeds in excess of 85mph before he lost control of his vehicle, left the roadway and stalled in a marshy field. He told officers he is bi-polar and was fighting with his wife and needed to be alone. This was the third time Frohmader has been charged in connection with a high speed chase. In 2004, he was sentenced to six months in jail. Last year, he was found “not guilty by reason of mental defect.” Frohmader also had his license suspended for one year and must seek mental health treatment and maintain absolute sobriety.

Two Years For 8th OWI

6/4/10 - A Reeseville woman convicted of her eighth OWI will spend two years in prison. 50-year-old Lana Jo Sullivan already spent three years in prison for previous offenses. The most recent citation came in August while she was on extended supervision for her seventh offense. Court records show Sullivan’s blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit. Following her most recent OWI arrest, a Columbia County judge revoked her probation and Sullivan was sent to prison. The sentence handed down last week will run consecutive to the one and a half years she is serving for the seventh offense. Sullivan was first convicted of drunken driving in 1989.

Fleeing Suspect Waives Prelim

6/4/10 - A Beaver Dam man charged with running from police at bar closing time this past January has waived his right to a preliminary hearing. Christopher Meinke is charged with a felony count of Fleeing. According to the criminal complaint, the 23-year-old was upset that his girlfriend was at a local bar and allegedly blew a stop sign on Madison Street, narrowly missing a squad car which had to swerve out of way. Meinke was said to be traveling at a high rate of speed when he lost that same police officer on South Lincoln Avenue. The officer discovered his car about 20 minutes later. He reportedly told police while later being questioned, (quote) “I admit to everything.” The charge carries a maximum three and a half year prison sentence upon conviction. Meinke has an arraignment hearing set for next week.

Storck Re-Appointed Chief Judge

6/4/10 - Dodge County Judge John Storck was re-appointed yesterday chief judge of the Sixth Judicial District, which also includes Columbia, Green Lake and eight other counties. The chief judges handle such matters as assigning substitute judges when defendants ask for them. Also, the court re-appointed four other circuit judges to continue as chief judges in their administrative districts, including Mac Davis of Waukesha County, Mary Wagner of Kenosha County, Greg Grau of Marathon County, and Donald Zuidmulder of Brown County. They can serve up to three two-year terms as chief administrative judges. Meanwhile, Waukesha Appeals Judge Richard Brown will continue to be the chief judge for all four branches of the state’s appellate courts. The Wisconsin Supreme Court re-appointed Brown yesterday to a second three-year term in that post. He’s been on the Second District Court of Appeals since 1978.

Doyle Orders Flags At Half-Staff

6/4/10 - Governor Jim Doyle has issued an executive order that flags at state offices should be flown at half-staff Friday in honor of a Hartford police officer who died while on duty. 41-year-old officer Steven Wannow, an 18-year veteran of the Hartford police force, died from a single gunshot wound. Foul play has been ruled out and authorities are still investigating.

May Deadly On Wisconsin Roadways

6/4/10 - According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, 63 people were killed last month in 58 traffic crashes. Dennis Hughes is head of transportation safety for the State Patrol. He says it was one of the deadliest months in the state in quite some time. Fatalities last month were up 15 from May of 2009 and topped the five-year average. Hughes says it’s not unusual for this time of year though, because so many more people are back on the roads.

Tea Parties Endorse No One

6/4/10 - Wisconsin’s Tea Parties want you to know they are not endorsing candidates in this fall’s elections. A coalition of about 70 local Tea Parties issued a statement insisting they have not endorsed anyone – even though some hopefuls identify themselves with the Tea Party’s goals of lower taxes and less government. Republicans have appeared and spoken at Tea Party events, but the coalition says it does not align itself with any of the major political parties. Oshkosh businessman Ron Johnson made himself known by speaking at Tea Party rallies – and the state Republican Party endorsed him almost two weeks ago for the U-S Senate seat now held by Democrat Russ Feingold.

Mahoney Continues To Notify ICE

6/4/10 - Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney has heard the request from the Madison City Council, but he’s continuing on with the practice of notifying immigration officials when it comes to undocumented inmates at the jail. Mahoney says he can’t back off on a necessary tool to ensure safety in his jail. The city council unanimously passed a resolution to only contact immigration when a felony is involved. Mahoney says it doesn’t matter if it’s a felony or misdemeanor. And it really doesn’t matter if someone is in for a major homicide or they’re there for a minor offense brought in by the Madison Police Department. The sheriff says this has been the practice at the jail for more than 30 years.