Sen. Wanggaard: Meet the four juveniles with life sentences Evers is poised to release

Cop Killer; Street Ambusher Killed 2; Murderer Stabbed Victim 20 Times

MADISON – On April 3, Governor Evers created the “Juvenile Life Sentence Commutation Process,” allowing him to release from prison juveniles who were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release. A review of Wisconsin Department of Corrections (“DOC”) records, reveal there are eight inmates in DOC custody meeting this criteria.

Of those eight, one individual is disqualified due to the murder and abuse of a child, and three others have not yet satisfied the additional requirement in the Governor’s commutation application that they serve at least 20 years of their life sentence.

The remaining four felons are all murderers including a cop killer, a man who killed two people, paralyzed another, and left another victim without a foot and a hand, and a man who beat his victim with a baseball bat, and stabbed him 20 times with a butcher knife until it bent.

“I believe in second chances as much as the next guy. I was actually working on a bill that would allow for judicial review of juvenile life sentences,” said Senator Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. “I stopped after seeing these heinous murders. The idea that Evers created a whole new process to potentially let them out of jail early is crazy, and frankly, insulting to the victims and their families.”

“These four individuals did unspeakable things just before their 18^th birthday. They knew what they were doing was wrong,” Wanggaard said. “The idea that they are victims of an unjust system and “bad law” is just bleeding-heart liberal, feel good, nonsense. Evers created this commutation process to eliminate the life sentences for these murderers.”

“Just because Evers has the power to cut short their well-earned life sentences, doesn’t mean he should,” said Wanggaard. “And when Governor Evers announces these commutations over a holiday weekend later this year, Wisconsin will be less safe than it was the day before.”

The four juvenile life sentences that can be commuted are:

The Cop Killer

Jason Halda was almost 17 years, 10 months of age when he shot Manitowoc Police Officer Dale TenHaken 3 times in the back during a routine traffic stop in 1998.

According to court records, late in the evening of the shooting, Halda and a friend had stolen gas and beer. Both had active warrants for bail jumping and failure to appear in court. Shortly after picking up two girls, Halda was pulled over by Officer TenHaken for driving without his headlights on, and driving without a license plate.

While Halda and his friend slinked down in the front seat of their car, the two girls exited the vehicle. Halda’s friend claimed to police that Halda had stated “I’ll kill a mother****** before I go to prison.” Halda exited the car with a gun behind his back. Testimony differed what happened next. One witness stated that when TenHaken was told Halda didn’t have a drivers’ license he turned to use his radio and was shot 3 times in the back, arm and head. Another stated that TenHaken asked Halda what was behind his back at which time Halda shot TenHaken.

The jury deliberated less than an hour before finding him guilty.

Street ambush shooter with “ice water in [his] veins”

Jamaal Addison was 17 years and 9 months old when he killed 2 people and attempted to kill two more, leaving the victims with permanent, serious disabilities.

According to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel accounts, Addison and another man ambushed four people in a parked car in a residential neighborhood. Addison and the other man opened fire on the car, one with a pistol, another circling the car with an AK-47 firing repeatedly into the vehicle. An estimated 40 bullets with fired into the vehicle. A 17-year old with eight gun shot wounds died at the scene, 21-year old with six wounds died a week later. Another victim lost a foot and a hand, and another was paralyzed from the neck down.

At the sentencing, Milwaukee Circuit Judge John DiMotto stated “It’s almost as if you’ve got ice water in your veins.” “…this is a life sentence, you will never be eligible for extended supervision.”

In addition to this case, Addison had previous delinquency findings for “his involvement with stolen cars and…possession of cocaine with intent to deliver” He had already been sent to a “juvenile prison for possession of a dangerous weapon by a minor” and was about to begin probation for having fled a police officer.

“Stabbed 20 times with a butcher knife”

Matthew Schumacher was 17 years, 8 months old when he murdered a restaurant owner in Sugar Creek, Wisconsin. He pled no contest to 1^st Degree Murder, burglary while armed, armed robbery, and arson.

According to reports, Schumacher and some friends went to the victim’s restaurant to steal money. They entered the victim’s apartment above his restaurant, bringing a baseball bat. Schumacher beat the victim in the head with the baseball bat. Schumacher then stabbed the victim around the neck and head with a butcher knife until the knife’s blade bent. Schumacher then retrieved another knife and stabbed the victim again, for a total of 20 knife wounds. After realizing they had left fingerprints, they attempted to set fire to the restaurant.

Schumacher made off with $350.

Arvester Hawkins

Arvester Hawkins was 17 years, 6 months old when he decided to kill an individual in an armed robbery, and flee a police officer. Details of the case could not be found.