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Judge's compassion, legal mind rememberedJudge's compassion, legal ...
Found: 4 Weeks 1 Day 19 Hours 26 Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - Judge Dane Morey had just sentenced a man to prison. Shortly afterward, the defense attorney said Morey's preparation, attention to detail and compassionate delivery left little room for an appeal on the Buffalo County Court sentence.It was classic Morey, who was known for how he cared about his family, the law, co-workers and the legal system as a whole, including defendants.Morey, 76, of Menomonie, succumbed to cancer Saturday in a Rochester, Minn., hospital.He will be remembered for his wide grin, sense of humor, white hair and much more.Morey routinely commented about the demeanor, attitude and character of defendants in his court. During sentencing in a Buffalo County vehicular homicide case involving alcohol use several years ago, Morey said: "Take this to your hearts, change how you live. The most important thing is to do something constructive out of this mess."Morey had respect in the courtroom."Judge Morey liked people and was liked by many," said James Duvall, who replaced Morey in 2005 as judge of Buffalo and Pepin counties. "In the courtroom he never forgot the basic goodness of even those who had erred in judgment and caused harm to others."Judge Morey was a positive moving force in his community and his church," Duvall added. "He cared deeply for his family. He was a wonderful teacher, good to work for and with. He will be missed."Morey was born in Trego in Washburn County, graduated from Spooner High School and attended UW-Superior for two years before serving in the U.S. Army as a Korean linguist during the Korean War.He graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1959, served as district attorney in Juneau County in 1961 and joined his brother Randall and John Whelan in a Mondovi law firm in 1963. He was appointed judge in 1990, replacing Gary Schlosstein."He certainly had an excellent legal mind, unquestioned ethics, good values and all with a real person's understanding for the people who appeared before him," Schlosstein said Monday. "He will be sorely missed by the legal fraternity and all his friends."Morey had been battling cancer about a year, becoming quite ill in the last few weeks, according to relatives. Morey is survived by his wife Ruth, four daughters, a sister and three brothers. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Menomonie....
Shell Lake man dies in Washburn County crash
Found: 1 Month 11 Hours 46 Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - SARONA - A Shell Lake man is dead following an accident Sunday morning on Highway D east of U.S. 53 near Sarona.John D. Lindemann, 52, died when the vehicle he was driving westbound on Highway D two miles east of Sarona went out of control and rolled over. Lindemann was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol. The accident was reported at 7:07 a.m. Sunday.The crash remains under investigation....
Bridge collapse survivor gets prison
Found: 1 Month 3 Weeks 3 Days 6 Hours 31 Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - SHELL LAKE (AP) - A survivor of the Twin Cities bridge collapse that killed 13 people has been sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison on charges of injuring his fiancee's daughter.Michael Stoner of Spooner had pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree reckless injury and obstructing an officer. He was sentenced in Washburn County Circuit Court Thursday to the prison time plus five years of extended supervision.He and the fiancee were driving to a Minneapolis hospital to see the woman's 2-year-old daughter when the bridge collapsed in August 2007. They managed to swim to safety. The injured girl had been flown to the hospital earlier.The 27-year-old Stoner apologized at the sentencing....
Man who survived bridge collapse sentenced
Found: 1 Month 3 Weeks 3 Days 14 Hours 28 Minutes ago
La Cross Tribune - SHELL LAKE, Wis. (AP) — A survivor of the Twin Cities bridge collapse that killed 13 people has been sentenced to 7˝ years in prison on charges of injuring his fiancee's daughter....
Council votes to put health care referendum on ballot
Found: 3 Months 1 Week 23 Hours 11 Minutes ago
The Northwestern - The Oshkosh Common Council voted Tuesday night to place a referendum aimed at lowering the cost of health insurance on the ballot in Oshkosh this November....
Victims describe pain of sex abuseTwo sentenced in separate sex abuse ...
Found: 4 Months 2 Weeks 5 Days 1 Hour 49 Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - BARRON - There is no end to the suffering for victims of sexual abuse.Two men, assaulted as teenagers decades ago, spoke about that pain Tuesday afternoon when their assailants were sentenced to jail.The perpetrators held positions of trust at the time of the assaults - one was a pastor and the other a teacher.Victims Doug Guillen of Florida and Richard Hinde of Barron County live hundreds of miles apart yet shared the agony of sexual abuse in separate hearings before Washburn County Judge Eugene Harrington.Former Rice Lake pastor Angel R. Toro, 57, now of Florida, pleaded guilty in Barron County Court to four misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree sexual assault against Guillen 21 years ago. Toro was originally charged with five felony counts.Toro, who did not apologize but asked for forgiveness from Guillen and his wife, was sentenced to 18 months in jail, followed by three years of probation.Dale J. Soppe, 72, a teacher who studied for the Catholic priesthood, was originally charged with felony counts of indecent behavior with a child and enticing a child for immoral purposes related to incidents with Hinde 39 years ago.Soppe, who matter-of-factly apologized to Hinde and his family in court, pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree sexual assault and had the other charge dismissed. He was sentenced to two years of probation, which includes 60 days in jail, and fined $1,000. A restitution hearing related to expenses Hinde has encountered over the years for counseling will be within 60 days.Harrington pointed out that Toro and Soppe, in their comments, talked more about their accomplishments, behaviors and meaningfulness to society than they did about the impact the assaults had on the victims.Soppe, of Fairfield, Iowa, said he was sexually victimized by priests as a child, while Toro called his assault "an isolated incident.""I am yet to understand how it is ever justified," Harrington said about adults assaulting children. "There isn't an explanation for this type of behavior. It is an abomination."Guillen and Hinde sat in the courtroom for each other's cases. They shared a similar bond."People have no idea what this does to you," Guillen said after the sentencing. "It just doesn't go away. Today the demon went back in the box for me. I feel good."Guillen spoke in Spanish to call Toro "a pig, a nasty pig" in open court before being rebuked by Harrington.Guillen said he has already "done 21 years to life" for what Toro did to him. When asked by Harrington what he thought, Guillen said: "I wouldn't tell you what I think. If I tell you what I think, you'll probably throw me right out of the courtroom."Guillen, 38, casually looked at his fingernails and the ceiling when Toro made his comments. Guillen left the courtroom and said "don't" as Toro looked at Guillen and asked for forgiveness.Toro assaulted Guillen in the summer or fall of 1987 when Guillen was helping Toro repair a fence at First United Methodist Church. The man said Toro bought beer for the two and assaulted him multiple times that day and the next several days at the church.Soppe sexually assaulted Hinde in Barron County in 1969, and Hinde claims Soppe also assaulted him several years earlier when Soppe was Hinde's teacher and basketball coach in Iowa. Hinde and his family moved to Barron County in the late 1960s.Charges could not be brought in Iowa for alleged incidents because of the expired statute of limitations. Charges against Soppe were allowed in Wisconsin because he left the state, which stopped the clock on the statute of limitations.Hinde referred to the sexual abuse he encountered as "murder of the soul," adding that he and other victims are scarred for life. Hinde said Soppe fooled many people and called Soppe arrogant, selfish and delusional.Soppe, who said he could not remember specifics of the assault, showed little emotion when saying he harmed Hinde. "I was the one with the problem. I am very sorry."Barron County Assistant District Attorney James Babbitt said it was important for Soppe and Toro to admit their crimes, which assists the victims in their healing process....
Former pastor sentenced for sex assault
Found: 4 Months 2 Weeks 6 Days 1 Hour 22 Minutes ago
Leader-Telegram - BARRON - A former Rice Lake pastor pleaded guilty today and was sentenced to 18 months in jail for sexually assaulting a boy more than 20 years.Angel R. Toro, 57, now of St. Petersburg, Fla., pleaded guilty in Barron County Court to four counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. Toro will be on three years of probation after he is released, according to Washburn County Judge Eugene Harrington's sentence.The victim, now 38, told police that Toro sexually assaulted him in the summer or fall of 1987 when the victim was helping Toro repair a fence at First United Methodist Church. The man said Toro purchased beer for the two and assaulted the victim multiple times that day and the next several days at the church.Toro testified before the sentencing that the sexual assault was a mistake and an isolated incident....
Jury settles family beef
Found: Minutes ago
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - After a 31-day trial in Washburn County, a jury has ordered both sides in Jack Link’s bitter family feud to pay each other a similar amount of money: about $5 million. ...
Two hunting guides fined for helping man lie about bear
Found: 4 Months 3 Weeks 4 Days 7 Hours 52 Minutes ago
The Daily Press - Two hunting guides fined for helping man lie about bear...
Plant Explosion Victim Calls Firefighters "Heroes"
Found: 4 Months 3 Weeks 4 Days 18 Hours 22 Minutes ago
WEAU 13 News - Five firefighters honored for bringing Cory LaBonte and Aaron Merchant out of the Cortec plant explosion alive...
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