of Juneau County
The Messenger HILLSBORO LABOR DAY CELEBRATION FUN FOR ALL VOL 15, NO. 5
LOOK INSIDE FOR YOUR LOCAL NEWS:
Elroy: Page 6 Mauston: Page 4 New Lisbon: Page 8
County: Page 3 Necedah: Page 9 Hillsboro: Page 12
Classifieds: Page 14 Legals: Pages 15–17
THE AWARD WINNING OFFICIAL LEGAL NEWSPAPER OF JUNEAU COUNTY THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2013
Arraignment for accused killer postponed BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD According to online court records, the August 28th arraignment of 29 year old Cody Treul has been postponed to November 4, 2013. Treul is charged with First Degree Intentional Homicide, First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety for the May 31st shooting behind PJ's Bar in Mauston which took the life of 29 year old Gail Howland and critically wounded 23 year old Ebony Lasher, paralyzing her from the chest down. At the time of the shooting both women lived in Mauston and were close friends. On August 19th Treul's attorney, David Geraghty, filed on behalf of his client for a new judge. Judge Paul Curran had been assigned to preside over the matter but as of August 28th Judge John Roemer will be hearing the case. It is unclear in the documentation as to why the change of judges was requested and approved. On the night of the shooting Treul was apprehended and has since remained in the custody of the Juneau County Sheriff's Department. On June 3rd he was placed on a $2 million cash bond.
Cody Treul
$1.00
Jury convicts Necedah man It was at 10:17 p.m. when a jury of five men and seven women returned with a guilty verdict convicting 51 year old Douglas Fischer of Necedah with First Degree Sexual Assault of Child under 13 years old, Incest, and Exposing Genitals to a Child. In the original criminal complaint on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, Juneau County Detective Tim Andres was contacted by a Juneau County Protective Worker in reference to a possible sexual assault of a child. The incident was reported to have occurred on Friday, September 30, 2011 and in the Town of Necedah. The complaint stated that the alleged 13 year old female victim reported to a friend that Fischer had assaulted her in a hot tub on September 30, 2011. The friend reported what she was told to her mother, and also
Douglas Fischer
school officials at the Necedah High School. School officials contacted the Juneau County Human Services to report the claim. The girl reported that the abuse began when she was eight years old and that it occurred on a monthly basis. See ASSAULT, page 3
Arrests made in marijuana grow operation outside Mauston BY BETTY WAITS The Juneau County Sheriff’s Department carried out two arrests during a traffic stop on August 29th just after 8 p.m. in the city of Mauston in connection with a marijuana grow operation. Arrested were Derek Sykes and David Gassen, both 22 of Madison. The pair had
been tending the crop of approximately 35 plants just before their arrests. The grow was located off of County Road B in the town of Lisbon, just west of Mauston. Upon the traffic stop, Mauston Police Departments K-9, Kantor, located marijuana in the subjects’ vehicle. Other arrests are possible as residents in the area have witnessed more than two subjects, and different vehicles at the location over
the last several months. Both Sykes and Gassen have been charged with felony manufacture/deliver THC, misdemeanor possession of THC, and possession of drug paraphernalia. On September 3rd both were in Juneau County Court for bond hearings which they made by video appearance from the Juneau County jail in front of Judge Paul Curran. Representing the state was Assistant District Attorney Clifford
Burdon. Neither defendant had an attorney present and were provided with public defender notices. Judge Curran issued both defendants with a $10,000 signature bond and ordered no contact with co-defendants or the property owner where the grow was located. Further, they are ordered to have no contact with J. Johnson, not to use, possess, or consume any controlled substances without a valid prescription.
Officers made the arrests in the city of Mauston after two of the subjects left the location of the marijuana grow site.
Both Juneau County Sheriff Brent Oleson and Detective Ben Goering reported that they had received information that suspicious activity had been occurring in the area, which alerted them to the situation. Passerby's on the road had repeatedly noticed a car parked on the curve and a clear walk path into the brush. One resident also witnessed water buckets being carried down into the area from the trunk of a car. Over the last several months, many different cars were seen at the location. A search warrant was issued and served on August 30th at the location based upon the observance of suspicious behavior. This search warrant revealed the location of the marijuana grow. Sheriff Brent Oleson encourages anyone noticing suspicious activity of any
kind to report it. “It might be nothing, but to keep our communities safe, it takes everyone together,” he said. Juneau County Detective Ben Goering resonated the same sentiment by saying, “We are so glad when citizens of our communities call in information. We follow up on that and even when it ends up being nothing, sometimes it ends up being much more,” he said. Sheriff Oleson encourages citizens to call the crime stoppers hotline with information at 608-847-9123. Callers can remain anonymous and still receive a reward. David Gassen is scheduled for a September 11th initial appearance and Derek Sykes is scheduled for a September 25th initial appearance for these charges.
David Gassen
Derek Sykes