COURT REPORTS - Wilkes sentenced to 18 years for 2022 Christmas Eve armed robbery

COURT REPORTS

Tommy Wilkes, 38, of Gilman, will serve prison time for an armed robbery at the Cenex gas station in the village of Gilman that occurred on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2022.

Wilkes was sentenced to 18 years in prison with 8 years of initial confinement and 10 years of extended supervision for the Class C Felony. Wilkes had faced up to 40 years in prison for the charge and up to $100,000 in fines.

On December 24, 2022, at 5:47 p.m. the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting an armed robbery at the Cenex gas station located at 485 East Main Street in the Village of Gilman.

A man entered the Cenex gas station in dark clothing wearing gloves and a mask to cover his face. The suspect was armed with a handgun that he pointed at the clerk while demanding money. The clerk indicated that the suspect exited the store with the money and was last seen leaving the scene on foot.

Taylor County Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene and were unable to locate the suspect. However, they were able to follow the suspect’s foot tracks in the snow which led to an area where it appeared the suspect entered a parked vehicle and drove away.

Taylor County Detectives continued the investigation into the robbery. On December 26, 2022, a search warrant was conducted on Wilkes’ home in the village of Gilman. Wilkes was arrested and taken into custody for the robbery.

At a June 25 hearing, Wilkes entered a plea of no contest to the charge and a presence investigation was ordered.

On October 16, Wilkes appeared in Taylor County Circuit Court Judge Ann Knox-Bauer ordered 18 years in the Wisconsin State Prison System with 8 years of initial confinement and 10 years of extended supervision with the following conditions: court costs; DNA sample and surcharge; no contact with V.B., C.B., and B.P., pay back the Taylor County Sheriff's Office for a tow bill of $369, pay restitution of $2,419.47, shall not enter the Gilman Cenex Store, attend counseling deemed appropriate by the probation agent; 660 days of sentence credit. There is money in evidence that will be released to the Clerk of Courts office to be applied toward the restitution amount.

Wilkes is eligible for the challenge incarceration program and qualifies but does not necessarily need the substance abuse program.

Found guilty

Sean Herricks, 21, of Ladysmith, was found guilty due to a no contest plea of trespassing and was ordered to pay $200.50. A charge of disorderly conduct was dismissed on prosecutor’s motion.

Issac Kautzer, 18, of Medford, was found guilty due to a no contest plea of operating a motor vehicle without two headlights and was ordered to pay $162.70. Citations for non-registration of vehicle (<10,000 lbs.), vent/side window excessive tinting, and rear window excessive tinting were dismissed on prosecutor’s motion.

Steven Mattfield, 38, of Medford, was found guilty due to a guilty plea for operating a motor vehicle without insurance and was ordered to pay $200.50. A citation for operating a motorcycle without valid license was dismissed on prosecutor’s motion. In addition, Mattfield was found guilty due to a no contest plea of operating while revoked (revoked due to alcohol/controlled substance/refusal) and was ordered to pay $443. A charge of possession of controlled substance was dismissed but read in for sentencing purposes.

Aaron Paul, 43, of Medford, was found guilty due to a no contest plea of disorderly conduct, amended from misuse of GPS device - place without consent, and was ordered to pay $330.50.

Justin Stendahl, 40, of Medford, was found guilty due to no contest pleas of OWI (2nd) and of OWI cause injury (2+). Charges of disorderly conduct, resisting or obstructing an officer, 3 counts of bail jumping - misdemeanor, 3 counts of bail jumping - felony, non-registration of vehicle - auto (<10,000 lbs.), display unauthorized vehicle registration plates, possess open intoxicants, OWI (2nd), operating with a PAC (2nd), PAC cause injury (2nd+), battery or threat to judge, prosecutor or law enforcement officer were all dismissed but read in for sentencing purposes. A charge of operating with a PAC (2nd) was dismissed on prosecutor’s motion. For the OWI (2nd) charge, court imposes but stays the following: fine of $1,618; 45 days of county jail with Huber and good time; DNA sample; 16 month driver's license revocation; ignition interlock device; alcohol and other drug assessment; $33 blood draw fee. Court then placed Stendahl on probation for a period of 2 years with the following conditions: fine of $1,618; $33 blood draw fee; DNA sample; 25 days of county jail with Huber privileges and good time, to be concurrent to with the OWI Cause Injury (2nd) count; 16 month driver's license revocation; ignition interlock device; alcohol and other drug assessment; counseling as deemed appropriate by the probation agent. In the event of a revocation Stendahl has 1 day of sentence credit. For the OWI Cause Injury (2nd) count, court ordered a withheld sentence and places Stendahl on probation for a period of 3 years with the following conditions: Fine of $4,126.00; $33 blood draw fee; DNA sample; 1 year of county jail with Huber privileges and good time, to be concurrent to the OWI (2nd) count; no contact with G.D.S.; write a letter of apology to G.D.S that is due within 30 days and to be preapproved by the probation agent; no contact with M.J.B.; 16 month driver's license revocation; ignition interlock device; alcohol and other drug assessment; counseling as deemed appropriate by the probation agent. In the event of a revocation Stendahl has 2 days of sentence credit. Jail can be served in any county in the State of Wisconsin provided arrangements are made by counsel or the defendant, it is approved by the Taylor County Jail, and at no additional cost to Taylor County. Jail time is to begin no later than November 12, 2024 at 4:30 p.m.

Deferred entry of judgement

Sarah Graf, 45, of Medford, was found guilty due to a no contest plea of battery - domestic abuse. Court accepts a deferred entry of judgment (DEJ) agreement and holds the case open for a period of 1 year. Conditions of the DEJ are: the defendant shall not commit any criminal offenses; shall notify the Taylor County District Attorney's Office, as well as the Clerk of Court's office, of any change of address within ten days of said change. Defendant shall comply with all of the terms of bond, which continues to remain in effect during the period of this agreement. The defendant is also to maintain absolute sobriety, attend counseling with a provider of the defendant’s choice to address AODA and mental health issues and follow through with any recommended treatment. Defendant is to provide proof of the counseling to the District Attorney's office and provide a release to communicate with the counselor within 30 days.

Deferred prosecution

A deferred prosecution agreement was approved for Christopher Withers, 39, of Birnamwood, for theft as a ordinance violation. He was ordered to pay $350.

Plea entered

Dorothy Anderson, 54, of Dorchester, pled not guilty to disorderly conduct (domestic abuse).

Dylan Gebert, 42, of Medford, pled not guilty to disorderly conduct.

Gavin Glenn, 17, of Athens, pled not guilty to theft movable property <= $2,500 as a party to a crime.

Coy Loucks, 18, of Medford, pled not guilty to operating with restricted controlled substance (1st with minor passenger less than 16 years old).

Jennifer Webb, 44, of Withee, pled not guilty to disorderly conduct - domestic abuse.

Rylan Zoellick, 17, of Medford, pled not guilty to battery.

Divorces granted

Divorces were granted on Monday October 14 to the following: Susan Schreiber of Medford and Tracy Schreiber of Medford.

Kathleen Poster-Bettner of Medford and Patrick Bettner of Medford.