CIRCUIT COURT REPORTS

Found guilty

Omar Aguilera, 31, of Abbotsford was found guilty due to a no contest plea of operating with PAC (2nd). Court ordered a straight sentence consisting of a fine of $1,555, $33 blood draw fee, provide a DNA sample and pay the surcharge, ignition interlock device for 12 months, AODA and follow through with the driver safety plan, 15 month driver's license revocation, 35 days of county jail with Huber privileges and good time, jail can be transferred to another county jail, and shall begin no later than October 1, 2024 at 4:30 p.m. Defendant has 1 day of sentence credit. All costs shall be paid directly to the Taylor County Clerk of Courts office in the amount of $50 a month beginning September 3. Court dismissed on prosecutor’s motion a charge of speeding in 55 mph zone (20-24 mph), possess open intoxicants in motor vehicle - drivers, OWI (2nd), and operating while revoked (revoked due to alcohol/controlled substance/refusal).

Alexander Gonzalez-Lawrence, 17, as found guilty due to a no contest plea of operating a motor vehicle without proof of insurance, amended from operating a motor vehicle without insurance and was ordered to pay $10.

Santana Lagos Lopez, 30, of Juneau, was found guilty due to a no contest plea of battery (domestic abuse) amended from strangulation and suffocation; criminal trespass to dwelling; criminal damage to property and resisting or obstructing and officer. Charges of operating without a valid license (2nd within 3 years) and second degree recklessly endangering safety were dismissed but read in for sentencing purposes. Court orders a withheld sentence and placed defendant on probation for 2 years. Conditions of probation are to pay the court costs on each count, provide a DNA sample and pay the surcharge on each count, write a letter of apology to Y.M.C. due within 30 days and to be preapproved by the probation agent, and attend counseling as deemed appropriate by the probation agent. Defendant will have 4 days of credit and his probation can be transferred to Dodge County. In the resisting or obstructing an officer charge, the court orders a straight sentence consisting of a $100 fine plus court costs, provide a DNA sample and pay the surcharge. Cash bond is applied toward all court costs. Court assessments totaled $906.

Blain Lain, 19 of Medford, was found guilty due to guilty plea of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, knowingly operate without a valid license - cause great bodily harm, injury by uses of vehicle - controlled substance, exposing genitals/public area/intimate parts to a child. Charges of knowingly operate without a valid license - causing death, homicide by vehicle use - controlled substance, child abuse - intentionally cause harm, were dismissed but read in for sentencing. Court orders a resentence investigation on both cases with the parties free to argue the sentence. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 11 at 10 a.m.

Bryce Nichols, 23, of Gilman, was fund guilty due to a no contest plea of operating without a valid license, amended from operating while revoked (revoked due to alcohol/controlled substance/refusal) and was ordered to pay $267.50. A charge of bail jumping - misdemeanor was dismissed on prosecutor’s motion.

Samantha Smith, 36, of Medford, was found guilty due to a no contest plea of OWI (3rd), disorderly conduct and bail jumping - misdemeanor as part of a plea agreement. Charges of not reporting an accident and refusing to take test of intoxication after arrest were dismissed on prosecutor’s motion. Charges of bail jumping - misdemeanor, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass to dwelling, and battery were dismissed but read in for sentencing purposes. For the OWI (3rd) Court orders the following 105 days county jail (immediate report) with 1 day of sentence credit, Huber privileges and good time granted; 30-month driver's license revocation; must complete an AODA and comply with a Driver's Safety Plan; ignition interlock device and; $42 blood draw reimbursement. For the disorderly conduct and bail jumping charges, court ordered payment of court costs on both counts; DNA sample and surcharge fee on both counts; letter of apology to the victim (to be preapproved by Victim Witness Coordinator). Per terms of the plea agreement, Count 2, PAC-3rd is dismissed as a matter of law. Total court costs and fees due and owing equal $4,184.

Jake Wendt, 38, of Rhinelander, was found guilty due to a no contest plea of resisting or obstructing an officer and disorderly conduct. Charges of battery or threat to a judge, prosecutors or law enforcement officer, and bail jumping - felony were dismissed but read in for sentencing purposes. Court withholds sentence and places Wendt on probation for 2 years. Conditions of probation are to pay court costs on each count, provide a DNA sample and pay the surcharge on each count, letter of apology to Officer Schuett due within 30 days and must be preapproved by the probation agent, maintain absolute sobriety, and attend any counseling as deemed appropriate by the probation agent.

Wendt was also found guilty due to a no contest plea of resisting or obstructing an officer (Repeater), battery or threat to judge, prosecutor, or law enforcement officer (repeater). Court orders a withheld sentence and placed Wendt on probation for a period of 3 years. Conditions of probation are to pay the court costs, provide a DNA sample and pay the surcharge, maintain absolute sobriety, and attend counseling as deemed appropriate by the probating agent.

Wendt was additionally found guilty due to a no contest plea of bail jumping - felony. A charge of disorderly conduct was dismissed but read in for sentencing purposes. Court orders 9 months of county jail with Huber privileges and good time. Wendt has 105 days of sentence credit. Any unpaid court costs will be reduced to a civil judgment. All costs will be paid directly to the Taylor County Clerk of Courts office in the amount of $25 a month beginning September 1.

Plea entered

Scott Ludwig, 47, of Stetsonville, pled not guilty to possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC, and possess drug paraphernalia.

Charges dismissed

The following charges were dismissed on prosecutor’s motion against Cole Carroll, 36, of Menomonie: theft of moveable property <= $2,500; criminal trespass to dwelling, and three counts of bail jumping - felony.