Shooting suspect pleads to reckless endangerment

A suspect in the 2020 shooting of a man in Abbotsford has pled guilty to felony reckless endangerment, preempting a jury trial that had been scheduled for last week in Neillsville.

Carlos Ruben Santiago Gonzalez, 26, of Abbotsford had initially faced a charge of attempted first-degree homicide, but that was dismissed as part of a plea deal reached between district attorney Melissa Inlow and defense attorney Roberto Ledesma.

A five-day trial was scheduled to start April 19 at the Clark County Courthouse, but that was cancelled after the two sides reached a last-minute plea agreement.

At a plea hearing on April 21, Santiago Gonzalez pled guilty to second-degree reckless endangerment, a Class G felony that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison, a fine of $25,000 or both.

Judge Scott Horne accepted the plea and scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 21.

A $25,000 signature bond was signed by Santiago Gonazalez, with the condition that he not have any contact with the victim or his accomplice in the shooting. He is also not allowed to leave the state of Wisconsin without court approval.

Santiago Gonzalez first turned himself into police in March of 2020, about a month after he and another suspect, Joennuel Moctezuma Torres, were seen carrying handguns while leaving the scene of the Feb. 16 shooting at the Northside Apartments.

The victim survived his injuries and was treated and released from a hospital in Medford.

Moctezuma Torres was just recently arrested in Puerto Rico and returned to Neillsville to face charges of attempted first-degree homicide and second-degree reckless endangerment. He had an initial court appearance on April 20, and a status conference was set for May 3.

Moctezuma Torres remains in the Clark County Jail on a $250,000 cash bond.