FEBRUARY 24, 2016 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 7
Strangling, beating leads to prison time
Judge cites “chilling” audio tape of Paul Villella’s temper, triples sentencing recommendations
Greg Marsten | Staff writer BALSAM LAKE – A rural Frederic man who was convicted at trial last fall of attempted strangulation/suffocation, and substantial battery will do at least a year-and-a-half in prison, with another five years of extended supervision after a sentencing in Polk County Circuit Court late last week. Paul Villella, 50, Frederic, was sentenced on the conviction last Friday, Feb. 19, by Judge Michael Waterman, who had presided over Villella’s trial last November. The judge weighed testimony by the prosecutor, defense, two of his victims and even from Villella himself before he went beyond the sentencing recommendations of the Department of Corrections, beyond even that of the county prosecutor, in handing down a sentence that will keep Villella incarcerated for at least another year and a half, on top of his time already served. He faced the potential of over six years in prison under state guidelines. Citing Villella’s own words from a presentence investigation, as well as testimony and evidence he heard at trial, some of which Waterman called “chilling,” all of it led to the final sentence, which was three times as much as the DOC had recommended. They recommended six months of incarceration, which Villella had served by the time he was sentenced. But some of Villella’s own words came back to haunt him at the sentencing hearing, as Waterman noted several times. “(We) never know when the next small thing will set you off,” Waterman stated, calling him “primitive” in his drunken reactions to seemingly tiny issues. Waterman is a St. Croix County Circuit Court judge, but presided over the Villella case in Polk County, as all other local judges had conflicts of interest or
Paul Villella at his initial court appearance last year. - File photo by Greg Marsten had been sued in the past by Villella, who has a noted history of “anti-government” actions, even telling officials once that he had renounced his U.S. citizenship and burned his Social Security card. As the judge cited, Villella also has unusual attitudes about women, seemingly citing fundamental beliefs about their role as subservient to the husband, which the judge noted at the sentencing as “antiquated ... evil perhaps ...” But according to the judge, Villella’s philosophy and attitudes took second chair compared to an audio recording of a previous incident, played at trial for the jury, which affected the judge enough to affect his sentencing. “That audio recording (at trial) was downright bone chilling,” Waterman said as he stared directly at Villella. “All over a cracked plate.” That “chilling” audio recording was secretly recorded by his victim during a previous encounter between Villella and her. She called it clear evidence of the type of rage she and other victims have faced, and it vividly recorded Villella repeatedly threatening and screaming expletives at her, over and over repeating how she was “lucky to have a roof over her head!”
The victim had secretly recorded the incident on her cell phone, using a special domestic abuse phone application, in part due to Villella’s history of violence. The rage the jury heard on the recording apparently began when he had received a dinner plate with a hairline crack. On the recording, Villella was clearly heard repeating over and over: “Are you tempting me to kill you? Are you?” That tape, as well as other evidence, led a Polk County jury to deliver a verdict in less than an hour of deliberation to convict Villella on the two felony counts of strangulation/suffocation and reckless endangerment. The jury also heard wildly emotional testimony alleging a history of violent domestic abuse, specifically on the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 16, at the family’s rural Frederic home, where Paul Villella had reportedly struck and kicked his spouse with pointed cowboy boots, so bad that she still suffers internal bleeding, and how he later attempted to strangle her with a throat hold “not meant to leave marks” according to the victim, who testified on the stand against Villella. “I thought I was going to die that day,” she had told the jury, adding how she still had kidney damage from his violent kicks with pointed boots. “He was choking me with his one hand ... and kicking me with his foot.” She had also testified about how he had yelled at her to shut up and then “boxed (punched)” (puncturing the eardrum) her on the side of the head, leaving her unconscious. “I was knocked out,” she said. “I woke up with him dragging me out of the house.” Her testimony detailed how she was trying to call the police when she woke, and was eventually able to dial 911 with a freehand as he choked her, but that she was not calling for her own protection. “I hit ‘send’ before it slid under the bed,” she said of the cell phone. “I knew someone would come, even if I was dead, I knew at least my kids would be protected.” It was testimony like that that also influenced the judge in his sentencing.
“People treat property better than how you treated (your spouse).” - Judge Michael Waterman
“What I heard on that (audio) tape made me feel uncomfortable just listening to it,” Waterman said with a sigh. “I can’t imagine what it was like for your children ... What I heard was a man out of control.” Trial testimony from sheriff’s deputies also echoed some of the temper and violence on the audio tape, as deputies noted Villella’s behavior upon their arrival that afternoon, how he had wanted his spouse and child removed for trespassing, as he had also called 911, but for a different reason: He told the dispatcher that his spouse was “Grabbing his property” and that he wanted her arrested, as he “Had every right to protect his property.” “People treat property better than how you treated (your spouse),” Waterman stated, later calling her beating “savage” and “an eruption.” However, as the judge was looking down at his trial notes, Villella repeatedly shook his head in denial. Waterman also said Villella’s rage was “disturbing on occasion,” and cited how the victim and his family deserve to be protected from him, “They are entitled to be safe,” Waterman said as he handed down his sentence. “I am reasonably certain that if you were placed on probation today, the rage you have ... will be taken out again. (I think) that is almost a practical certainty.” Villella will serve one-and-a-half years of incarceration on both convictions, with three years of extended supervision on the strangulation conviction, and two years extended supervision on the substantial battery with intent to harm conviction, both felony sentencing of a year and a half each, running concurrently.
SCF Council reviews street projects
Vincent/Maple Street plan reviewed, set for bids
Greg Marsten | Staff writer ST. CROIX FALLS – The St. Croix Falls Common Council reviewed costs and several issues to consider before they authorized an engineering firm to proceed with advertising for bids on the extensive Vincent and Maple street rehabilitation project. The review of the project took place at their regular meeting on Monday, Feb. 22, with Lucas Jones of MSA Engineering outlining some of the areas of concern, such as how to deal with properties that do not currently have city water and sewer services, but are within the 300-foot limit set under city code to force them to use city services. Several of the affected residents have requested at least some of the services, but the city may follow general policy that is also supported by the state DNR on requiring city sewer service, at least, although billing may be difficult, as it is usually based on water use. “With DNR (regulations) I think we should look into that (having them connected),” Mayor Brian Blesi said, implying that the city should follow through and force those affected to be connected. According to Jones, the overall project cost estimates came in at approximately $2.4 million, with $1.8 million of that being construction costs. The project would include major renovation of not just the streets, but also the underlying infrastructure of water and sewer liens, increased in size to modern standards, as well as eliminating a lift station. Not in the estimate is a very popular mini-roundabout proposal, which the neighbors liked, but may jeopardize certain grant funding the city is relying on to
“The mini-roundabout is on hold or dead.” - MSA engineer Lucas Jones
St. Croix Falls High School musicians Katie Kopp and Joseph Ward showed the city’s common council a banner the school received for their music department excellence. – Photo by Greg Marsten pay the final bill. “The mini-roundabout is on hold or dead,” Jones said, although previous discussions noted that the project would not be off the table in the future. After some discussion, the council approved the MSA estimates and approved having the firm advertise for bids, pend-
ing DNR approval.
In other council action: • A plan to seek bids or purchase a utility department water jetter/vacuum trailer was approved, at an estimated cost of $106,000. The machine would allow for safer and quicker excavation, waterline
repair and freeze-up work, as well as an included “strong arm” to safely exercise city water valves, which has been discussed at length in the past. The trailer would be purchased as part of the city’s Clean Water Fund loan, which they have utilized for the recent wastewater treatment plant reconstruction, at a low-interest rate over two decades. • The council tabled a decision on hiring a new building inspector, out of concerns over his proposed rate structure that he presented. • The council entertained a presentation by the St. Croix Falls High School music department, which detailed a recent award they received, and displayed a banner they earned. • The council opened the meeting with an appointment to the city’s Community Development Authority, replacing current Alderman Jerry Berger with Lori Erickson, due to work restraints. •Alderman Jerry Berger noted that he is listed as the only person on the April election ballot, but those aforementioned work changes mean he will need to resign, once elected. He is seeking to have a write-in candidate come forward, to make it so the council can avoid an appointment after his likely resignation. “I hate to do it, but I’m not sure what other options we have,” Berger said after the meeting.