(Beaver Dam) A five-day jury trial was scheduled yesterday (Wednesday) for a Beaver Dam woman charged with vehicular homicide. Cindy Lara-Esparza was reportedly the driver when her vehicle went off Madison Street Bridge and into the Beaver Dam River which resulted in the death of a passenger. Authorities were dispatched to the area near Ryan Cantafio’s Way, behind Park Plaza Pizza, at bar closing time last April. Lara-Esparza sustained non-life-threatening injuries but her 23-year-old boyfriend, Jared Frakes, was killed. Both Lara-Esparza and Frakes were reportedly drinking at Johnny’s Lounge the night of the accident. A blood draw allegedly returned a result of point-two-one-two (.212). If convicted on both charges, the 24-year-old faces no more than 50 years in prison. The trial is set to begin on August 31st.
(Beaver Dam) A Madison man arrested in connection to a theft from a Beaver Dam store was placed on probation for two years yesterday (Wednesday). Fifty-one-year-old Scott Brown entered a no contest plea to a felony count of Bail Jumping. A felony charge of Retail Theft was dismissed but read into the record. 58-year-old William Byrnes is facing similar charges for his alleged role and will be arraigned next week. Brown and the second suspect were arrested after they fled the store in November on Highway 151. Brown admitted to a drug problem and said he could get a few hundred dollars for the tools in Madison.
(Westford) A Sun Prairie man accused of injuring another motorist in a drunk driving accident entered a not guilty plea during his arraignment hearing yesterday. On October 2nd, Daniel Pickhardt apparently lost control of his truck on County Road G and spun out. He was then rear-ended by a woman who complained of back pains. Pickhardt’s blood alcohol level was allegedly point-one-six (.16). If convicted of the felony charge, the 56-year-old could spend up to six years in prison.
(Green Lake) The number of suspects connected to a sex trafficking ring in Green Lake County has grown to nine. Three more men were charged this week in connection with the ring that operated out of a residence at W2964 County Line Road in the Town of Manchester. Sheriff’s officials say the victim ran away from the residence and she was found along a road side by deputy on November 28th after she called 9-1-1. Investigators figured out where the alleged offenses occurred and executed a warrant at the residence. The victim is a juvenile girl. Police believe the suspects are undocumented immigrants from Guatemala.
(Madison) A Dodge County deputy jailer joined State Representative Mark Born at the capital yesterday (Wednesday) to testify on a new bill that would make a life-saving drug more readily available for jail staff. Jason Hundt pointed out a loophole in state statute that prevents jailers from obtaining Narcan in county facilities. The opioid antagonist can be used to completely or partially reverse an opioid overdose. The bill would add county jailers to the current statute which establishes a framework for all levels of EMT and first responders to be trained on how to administer the drug. The bill has received bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly.
(Juneau) The Dodge County Board’s Executive Committee was given an update this week on the search for a new executive director for Clearview Nursing Home. Last month, Deanna Wilson gave her resignation and said she will be working with Oakwood Village Prairie Ridge in Madison. County Administrator Jim Mielke says the application process will come to an end on February 13th with round one interviews slated to begin on the February 17th. He says the county board should vote on the potential hire during their monthly meeting in March with an expected start date sometime late April or early May.
