News September 7, 2011

9/7/11 – A 21-year-old Beaver Dam who had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl had a deferred prosecution agreement revoked after he continued to see the child. Kyle C. Bahr was sentenced Friday to four years in prison for violating a court order prohibiting him from having contact with any female under the age of 18 without supervision. Bahr served 60 days in jail after he was sentenced in November on a felony charge of Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child for an offense that occurred in June of last year. At that time, the judge also withheld a finding of guilt and placed Bahr on Deferred Prosecution for a similar felony offense that occurred in the spring. That agreement was revoked after it was learned Bahr continued to see the girl last summer despite the judge’s order. Investigators say Bahr was aware of the young teen’s age when he was with her on several occasions last year. He told authorities that he thought she was 18-years-old and just had a strict mom. Bahr also told investigators that the victim never said “she was 18” but he says she told him her birthday was in 1992, which at the time still made it illegal for the two of them to be together. Bahr’s roommate told police he knew the victim’s age and said Bahr was aware of it as well. The victim believed he was a couple years younger than his actual age. Bahr was also ordered to serve five years of extended supervision.

9/7/11 – A Waupun man was given probation for stealing checks from a home and later using them to purchase hundreds of dollars in goods. But 21-year-old Jordan Wegner will go to prison for three years on a narcotics charge. Wegner was convicted on three felony forgery counts after an incident last September in which he stole checks from a home and later used them to purchase more than $715 worth of goods. The criminal complaint states that Wegner attended a party in Reeseville where he allegedly took the checks. The man’s checks he was accused of stealing reported the theft in October and using video surveillance, authorities were able to connect Wegner to the crime. While that case was working its way through the court system, Wegner was arrested on a narcotics charge in January. He pled no contest to that charge and was sentenced to the prison time with five years probation and two years of extended supervision.

9/7/11 – The Beaver Dam Police Department is a breaking and entering that occurred Sunday on the 100 block of Warren Street. The occupants reported that the door of the residence was broken down and a television and other items were taken. Anyone with information is asked to contact Beaver Dam police.

9/7/11 – Another counterfeit bill has popped up in Beaver Dam. The police department was contacted on Saturday by a resident who was told by his bank that a $20 bill he tried to deposit was fake. The money was taken as evidence and will be turned over to Secret Service.

9/7/11 – The numbers of homeowner’s taken to court for not keeping up with their mortgages took a big jump last month in southeast Wisconsin. The Journal Sentinel reports 970 new foreclosure cases last month in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth and Washington counties. That’s up 34-percent from the 725 new foreclosures the previous month. July had the fewest filings of any month in 2011 – and Milwaukee County surpassed 500 new foreclosures for the first time this year. But the August total in the region was still about six-and-a-half percent less than the same month a year ago.

At least one Wisconsin runaway teen was forced to be portrayed as a 25-year-old offering “adult services” in an ad on Backpage-Dot-Com. But in spite of that, Wisconsin’s attorney general was not among his colleagues in 45 states who recently tried to crack down on the Web site. The

states sent a letter to Backpage-Dot-Com’s attorney, asking for details on policies aimed at preventing teens from being advertised as adult sex objects. The other state justice departments had called Backpage a hub for human trafficking. Wisconsin Attorney General J-B Van Hollen would not tell the Center for Investigative Journalism why he did not sign the letter from his national colleagues. Van Hollen said he had a policy of not publicly negotiating cooperation with the private sector. But he said Wisconsin’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force had received over 200 tips of illegal Web activity in child porn and child enticement cases – and they resulted in over 100 arrests last year. The Wisconsin runaway cited by the investigative journalism group was a 15-year-old girl whose case was dug up by authorities in Georgia. Van Hollen said he encouraged all Web sites to cooperate with police, so their pages don’t become what calls “conduits for illegal activity.” In the last three years, over 50 court cases have been filed in 22 states involving trafficking of minors on Backpage-Dot-Com. The company has said it adopted new policies earlier this year to discourage such activity.

9/7/11 – You might get to see how the Wisconsin Supreme Court makes more of its decisions. Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson has already said that more of the court’s proceedings should be made public, to try and end the bitter divisions and arguments among the seven justices. Today, Abrahamson outlined a list of options for the court to consider when it discusses the matter on September 15th. One idea is to establish the presumption that all of the court’s conferences are open to the public. Another alternative is to open up the meetings where the court decides which cases to take. Abrahamson also said the actual deliberations of cases could be taped and released later, after the decisions have been handed down. She also said an expert on conflict resolution could work with all the justices on a one-on-one basis. The chief justice made it clear that the options are meant for discussion – and she does not necessarily endorse all of them. Abrahamson said the bitter divisions on the Supreme Court – highlighted by the physical spat between Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and David Prosser – have affected public confidence. But the chief justice wrote, quote, “None of us is blameless. This is a new term, however, and each term is a new beginning.” Any changes in opening the court’s proceedings would take effect after the term starts in October.

Grigg Officially Announces He’ll Run for the Assembly

9/7/11 – Horicon Mayor James Grigg officially announced his bid to run for the Assembly. He told a group of around four dozen people yesterday at the Dodge County Administration Building that he never envisioned himself running for the Assembly but said he also never saw such a need for a change in the way the 39th Assembly District is represented. Grigg – who worked for John Deere for nearly a quarter century – quickly defined himself as a candidate who supports union rights. He says whether in the private sector or municipal government, the right to collectively bargain has never been a negative but is instead about sitting down together to discuss the issues and find solutions. Grigg is running for the seat currently occupied by Assembly Majority Leader Jeff Fitzgerald, who also lives in Horicon. Fitzgerald has said that he is “99% sure” that he will be running for the US Senate seat being vacated by Senator Herb Kohl.

BD Won’t Be Liable if Another Car Goes into River

9/7/11 – The city of Beaver Dam is not liable in the event another drunk driver crashes through the railings of the Madison Street Bridge and plummets into the river. It’s happened three times in one year – though seldom if ever before that – with the most recent crash in July. City Attorney Mary Ann Schacht told the city’s Police and Fire Commission last night that she consulted with the Wisconsin League of Municipalities insurance carrier and was assured that as long as the proper signage is in place, the city can not be held liable. The city installed flashing lights after the second crash and discussed the possibility of replacing the railings with a concrete parapet. Schacht advised against the parapet saying hitting a brick wall at a high rate of speed could be a recipe for death. But Fire Chief Alan Mannel noted the danger involved with having his personnel conduct a river rescue. Mayor Tom Kennedy says he is looking into the possibility of adding rumble strips like those you see in the country before a stop sign, but quieter. The last drunk driver who crashed into the river was underage and Schacht says authorities are investigating to determine where the alcohol came from. Police Chief Ron Smith questioned why the DNR hasn’t been involved to levy fines against the drivers related to the spillage of gasoline into the river. That may be tricky though as one of those drivers was in the country illegally and has since been deported.

Police Station Nearly Completed

9/7/11 – The Beaver Dam Police Station is substantially competed. That’s what Mayor Tom Kennedy told the city’s Police and Fire Commission last night about the $5.2 million dollar structure on Park Avenue. Kennedy says the project is on budget and on-time, even though installation of flooring tiles was delayed this summer, preventing the facility from opening ahead of schedule. A dedication is tentatively planned for Tuesday, September 27.

Area Teens Face Charges After Stealing Cash Filled Briefcase

9/7/11 – Three area teens face felony charges for stealing a brief case with cash from a parked car. 18-year-olds Bradley DeYoung of Randolph and Ross Dicka of Poynette are charged with felony Burglary and misdemeanor Theft along with 17-year-old Justin Francis of Friesland. The three say they were rifling through vehicles – or “car shopping” as they called it – in Randolph last March when they came across a brief case with $600 cash inside. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of over 13 years, if convicted.

Reifsnider Charged with Burglary

9/7/11 – A Beaver Dam man is charged with felony Burglary for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars in jewelry from a family member. Authorities say Cody Reifsnider broke into the Town of Oak Grove home last Thursday and took three wedding rings valued at $5000. The relative reportedly walked in on the 24-year-old, who was immediately kicked out of the house. If

convicted, the charges carry a maximum sentence of nearly 16 years in prison. A signature bond was set at $1000 yesterday and a preliminary hearing is on the calendar next month.

Bahr has Deferred Prosecution Agreement Revoked

9/7/11 – A 21-year-old Beaver Dam who had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl had a deferred prosecution agreement revoked after he continued to see the child. Kyle C. Bahr was sentenced Friday to four years in prison for violating a court order prohibiting him from having contact with any female under the age of 18 without supervision. Bahr served 60 days in jail after he was sentenced in November on a felony charge of Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Child for an offense that occurred in June of last year. At that time, the judge also withheld a finding of guilt and placed Bahr on Deferred Prosecution for a similar felony offense that occurred in the spring. That agreement was revoked after it was learned Bahr continued to see the girl last summer despite the judge’s order. Investigators say Bahr was aware of the young teen’s age when he was with her on several occasions last year. He told authorities that he thought she was 18-years-old and just had a strict mom. Bahr also told investigators that the victim never said “she was 18” but he says she told him her birthday was in 1992, which at the time still made it illegal for the two of them to be together. Bahr’s roommate told police he knew the victim’s age and said Bahr was aware of it as well. The victim believed he was a couple years younger than his actual age. Bahr was also ordered to serve five years of extended supervision.

Wegner Goes to Prison for Narcotics Charge

9/7/11 – A Waupun man was given probation for stealing checks from a home and later using them to purchase hundreds of dollars in goods. But 21-year-old Jordan Wegner will go to prison for three years on a narcotics charge. Wegner was convicted on three felony forgery counts after an incident last September in which he stole checks from a home and later used them to purchase more than $715 worth of goods. The criminal complaint states that Wegner attended a party in Reeseville where he allegedly took the checks. The man’s checks he was accused of stealing reported the theft in October and using video surveillance, authorities were able to connect Wegner to the crime. While that case was working its way through the court system, Wegner was arrested on a narcotics charge in January. He pled no contest to that charge and was sentenced to the prison time with five years probation and two years of extended supervision.

BDPD Investigating Warrant Street Break-in

9/7/11 – The Beaver Dam Police Department is a breaking and entering that occurred Sunday on the 100 block of Warren Street. The occupants reported that the door of the residence was broken down and a television and other items were taken. Anyone with information is asked to contact Beaver Dam police.

More Counterfeit Money Found in Beaver Dam

9/7/11 – Another counterfeit bill has popped up in Beaver Dam. The police department was contacted on Saturday by a resident who was told by his bank that a $20 bill he tried to deposit was fake. The money was taken as evidence and will be turned over to Secret Service.

Foreclosures Up in Southeastern Wisconsin

9/7/11 – The numbers of homeowner’s taken to court for not keeping up with their mortgages took a big jump last month in southeast Wisconsin. The Journal Sentinel reports 970 new foreclosure cases last month in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Walworth and Washington counties. That’s up 34-percent from the 725 new foreclosures the previous month. July had the fewest filings of any month in 2011 – and Milwaukee County surpassed 500 new

foreclosures for the first time this year. But the August total in the region was still about six-and-a-half percent less than the same month a year ago.

Supreme Court Proceedings May Be More Accessible

9/7/11 – You might get to see how the Wisconsin Supreme Court makes more of its decisions. Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson has already said that more of the court’s proceedings should be made public, to try and end the bitter divisions and arguments among the seven justices. Today, Abrahamson outlined a list of options for the court to consider when it discusses the matter on September 15th. One idea is to establish the presumption that all of the court’s conferences are open to the public. Another alternative is to open up the meetings where the court decides which cases to take. Abrahamson also said the actual deliberations of cases could be taped and released later, after the decisions have been handed down. She also said an expert on conflict resolution could work with all the justices on a one-on-one basis. The chief justice made it clear that the options are meant for discussion – and she does not necessarily endorse all of them. Abrahamson said the bitter divisions on the Supreme Court – highlighted by the physical spat between Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and David Prosser – have affected public confidence. But the chief justice wrote, quote, “None of us is blameless. This is a new term, however, and each term is a new beginning.” Any changes in opening the court’s proceedings would take effect after the term starts in October.