La Crosse County Circuit Court is testing whether court procedures ought to be done via video conference instead of parading shackled inmates into courtrooms.
Judge Ramona Gonzalez introduced the idea and is permitting a “test trial” during her two-week rotation of intake, a court procedure that deals with defendants facing charges every weekday at 1:30 p.m.
“This is just a test trial, no permanent changes at this time,” Gonzalez said, but it is a common process used in several counties, including Vernon and Monroe.

La Crosse County Circuit Judge Ramona Gonzalez
During intake, defense attorneys stand before judges, side-by-side with their clients to argue against the prosecution, while the public — family, friends or spectators — and journalists in the media room watch.
Everyone is in the same place during the new process, except lawyers and their clients, who remain in the jail and appear on video.
Jennifer Lough, a private attorney, said the move doesn’t serve the best interest of her clients.
“From the defense perspective, when we use videoconferencing at the initial stages of a case, our clients are not in the best possible position to participate in the hearing,” Lough said. “Setting bail is a very crucial stage, as it determines whether a person who is presumed innocent will be at home or in custody during the pendency of his or her case. To appear for the hearing from another room through a television screen sets up a situation where there is not only a physical distance from the courtroom, but also an emotional disconnection from the human being who has been told that he or she is accused of a crime and who is very interested in whether he or she will be released from the jail.
“Second, the videoconferencing procedure does not allow the client to see the friends and family who are present in court supporting that person during a horrible moment in his or her life, she said “Further, as an attorney, I believe that it is important to be present in the courtroom, connecting with the individuals in the hearing, so that I can properly and effectively advocate for my client’s interests.”
La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke had no problem with the change, saying it didn’t affect his department.

La Crosse County Circuit Court testing if court procedures should be done via video conference instead of having inmates come into courtroom.
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A regular court proceeding, intake, at La Crosse County Circuit Court.
“It has been talked about before, and we have the equipment, but there has not been consensus amongst the judges to do it,” Gruenke said.
“The defense attorneys are not in favor of it because they think they can get more information being in the courtroom (with their clients or defendants),” he added.
La Crosse County Sheriff Jeff Wolf is in favor of the new idea and wants criminal justice experts to give this process careful consideration.
There are sometimes about 20 inmates being moved from the jail up to the courtroom, Wolf said, and if “some type of disturbance occurs, we have minimal staff on hand to deal with the inmates.”
If inmates appear from the jail, Wolf said, “We have additional jail staff present that can deal with disturbances without putting the public or criminal justice professionals in danger.
“It is common practice throughout the state to conduct appearances by video conferencing and it is nice to see that Judge Gonzalez is willing to give the video appearance a try, which takes into account the safety of everyone and the unnecessary exposure of inmates while in court,” he said.
The advantages are still unknown, but the purpose is to “better serve court users in a trauma-informed process while assuring safety for all,” Gonzalez said.
When asked to elaborate, Gonzalez said: “Inmates in court struggling to keep their pants up as they make their intake appearance … vomiting … inmate and audience outbursts and other distractions that undermine the orderly administration of justice in a safe and humane way. But for the grace of God, any of us could be in the shoes of one of our arrested folks. The process should be as safe and humane as possible.”
Nathen Herzer

Nathen P. Herzer, 21, La Crosse, was charged July 31 with substantial battery as a repeater. While an inmate at the La Crosse County Jail, Herzer punched another man, breaking his jaw, according to the complaint.
Kelly K. Hansen

Kelly K. Hansen, 30, La Crosse, was charged July 30 with burglary of a building or dwelling, criminal damage to property and misdemeanor theft, as a repeat offender. Police arrested Hansen after receiving a report from Taco Bell in the 4000 block of Mormon Coulee Court that the front door’s glass had been smashed and money was missing, according to the complaint.
Mariah C. Williamson

Mariah C. Williamson, 20, Stoddard, was charged July 30 with felony bail jumping, resisting an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia, as a repeat offender. Police arrested Williamson after a foot pursuit and later discovered she had two warrants, according to the complaint.
Odell A. Thompson

Odell A. Thompson, 34, La Crosse, was charged July 30 with felony bail jumping, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct. Police arrested Thompson after a bar fight Saturday, according to the criminal complaint.
Nathen P. Herzer

Nathen P. Herzer, 21, La Crosse, was charged July 30 with felony bail jumping and fraudulent use of a credit card, as a repeat offender. Police arrested Herzer after a victim reported the theft of her wallet, phone, credit, which had purchases made on it, and $50, according to the criminal complaint.
Chadwick Andrew Wylie

Chadwick Andrew Wylie, 37, La Crosse, was charged July 30 with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (fourth offense), operating a motor vehicle while revoked and resisting an officer. Police arrested Wylie after finding him intoxicated and lying in the fetal position in public, according to the criminal complaint.
Cole A. Passe

Cole A. Passe, 44, La Crosse, was charged July 26 operating with prohibited alcohol concentration with a minor child in the vehicle and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated with a minor child, both third offenses. Police arrested Passe, who had a 9-year-old baseball player of the team he coaches, in his vehicle, after his preliminary breath test indicated a result of 0.237 percent, according to the criminal complaint.
Greg M. Porter

Greg M. Porter, 32, La Crosse, was charged July 26 with felony bail jumping. Police arrested Porter for a La Crosse County warrant, according to the criminal complaint.
Nathen P. Herzer

Nathen P. Herzer, 21, La Crosse, was charged July 26 with burglary of a building or dwelling, misdemeanor theft, three counts of felony bail jumping, two of counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and possession of methamphetamine, as a repeat offender. Police arrested Herzer after a victim reported money stolen from his vehicle and his credit card reported about $300-worth of purchases, according to the criminal complaint.
Jack D. Taylor

Jack D. Taylor, 34, La Crosse, was charged July 26 possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place, felony bail jumping, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia. A criminal informant helped police arrest Taylor, who had more than 100 grams of suspected methamphetamine and $3,200 in cash, according to the criminal complaint.
Chenoa D. Danick

Chenoa D. Danick, 33, La Crosse, was charged July 25 with attempting to flee or elude an officer (repeater), threat to a law enforcement officer (repeater), operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (second offense) attempt battery to a law enforcement officer (repeater), attempted battery to a law enforcement officer (repeater), resisting an officer (repeater), disorderly conduct (repeater), misdemeanor bail jumping (repeater), operating with prohibited alcohol concentration (second offense). Police arrested Danick after an 0.5-mile vehicle pursuit after fleeing police conducting a traffic stop, according to the criminal complaint.
Jennifer L. Carrillo
Jennifer L. Carrillo, 37, La Crosse, was charged July 25 with possession with intent to deliver counterfeit methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of narcotic drugs, maintaining a drug trafficking place, felony bail jumping and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police arrested Carrillo after conducting a search warrant and discovering three grams of suspected meth and about 450 grams of fake meth, according to the criminal complaint.
Joshua Dekota Tidwell

Joshua Dekota Tidwell, 31, La Crosse, was charged July 25 with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a second-offense repeat offender. Police discovered about three grams of a white-crystallized substance while arresting Tidwell for a Department of Corrections warrant, according to the criminal complaint.
Torek C. Inderberg

Torek C. Inderberg, 40, Onalaska, was charged July 24 with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, as a repeat offender. Police discovered drugs in Inderberg’s possession after validating he had a probation warrant, according to the criminal complaint.
Tristen R. Landers

Tristen R. Landers, 31, La Crosse, was charged July 24 with delivery of methamphetamine, delivery of methamphetamine (as a party to a crime), possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia. A criminal informant helped police arrest Landers who was in possession of drugs, according to the criminal complaint.
Alan C. Mauss

Alan Mauss, 67, of New Albin, Iowa, was charged July 23 with driving while intoxicated, fourth-offense. Mauss was arrested at 2:38 a.m. Tuesday near the ramp to Interstate 90. He had a blood alcohol level of 0.062, according to the preliminary breathalyzer, above the 0.02 limit for fourth-time offenders. Mauss also was driving on a license that has been revoked indefinitely since 2011.
Dominique M. Hister

Dominique Hister, 17, La Crosse, was charged July 23 with felony bail jumping, a Class H felony, according to the complaint. At the time of Hister’s arrest on the 200 block of South Eighth Street, he was out on two felony bonds, including one that had listed house arrest as a condition of the bond.
Corey D. Taylor

Corey Taylor, 33, was charged July 23 with spitting at a public safety worker, a Class I felony, and three misdemeanor counts including battery, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct. There is a warrant to extradite Taylor back to Missouri for an existing conviction and sentence.
Davonte E. Owens

Davonte Owens, 26, La Crosse, was charged July 23 with a count of strangulation and suffocation, a Class H Felony, and six misdemeanor counts, including repeated battery, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct and theft, according to the compliant.
Taylor A. Ludwig

Taylor A. Ludwig, 27, La Crosse, was charged July 22 with possession of narcotic drugs, possession of methamphetamine and felony bail jumping. Police arrested Ludwig after admitting to there being “heroin, meth and pills in her purse,” according to the criminal complaint.
Benjamin R. Groth

Benjamin R. Groth, 39, no permanent address, was charged July 22 with possession of methamphetamine, possession of THC and misdemeanor theft. Police arrested Groth for stolen items valued at about $1,000, 4.2 grams of meth and 1.4 grams of THC, according to the criminal complaint.
Donald F. Greeno

Donald F. Greeno, 61, La Crosse, was charged July 22 with burglary of a building or dwelling and two counts of felony bail jumping, as a repeat offender. Police arrested Greeno after discovering several stolen items, according to the criminal complaint.
Shannon D. Gage

Shannon D. Gage, 32, La Crosse, was charged July 22 with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police arrested Gage after discovering drugs in the car she was driving, according to the criminal complaint.
Chue Yee Xiong

Chue Yee Xiong, 30, La Crosse, was charged July 22 as a fugitive. Xiong has a warrant from Winona County, Minn., according to the criminal complaint.
Steven T. Brown

Steven T. Brown, 56, La Crosse, was charged July 18 with operating a motor vehicle while revoked and felony bail jumping. While conducting a traffic stop, police arrested Brown after his probation officer asked that Brown be held, according to the criminal complaint.
Andrew M. Plum

Andrew M. Plum, 31, La Crosse, was charged July 18 with possession of methamphetamine (repeater), felony bail jumping (repeater) and operating a motor vehicle while revoked. Police arrested Plum after discovering drugs in his possession, according to the criminal complaint.
Casey J. Proudfoot

Casey J. Proudfoot, 28, Onalaska, was charged July 18 with possession of methamphetamine, possession of illegally obtained prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police stopped Proudfoot for a warrant and arrested her after discovering drugs in her possession, according to the criminal complaint.
Damien S. Reinsvold

Damien S. Reinsvold, 37, La Crosse, was charged July 18 as a fugitive. Reinsvold was arrested on a Winona County, Minn., according to the criminal complaint.
Dennis L. Sharpe

Dennis L. Sharpe, 27, Houston, Minn., was charged July 18 as a fugitive. Sharpe was arrested for a warrant from Houston County, Minn., according to the criminal complaint.
Debra M. White

Debra M. White, 58, La Crosse, was charged July 17 with substantial battery and disorderly conduct. Police arrested White for physically assaulting a man, according to the criminal complaint.
Nathen P. Herzer

Nathen P. Herzer, 21, La Crosse, was charged July 17 with felony bail jumping and possession of an electric weapon. Police arrested Herzer after he used an electronic control device in his pocket, according to the criminal complaint.
Trevor A. Midtlien

Trevor A. Midtlien, 27, La Crosse, was charged July 17 with burglary of a building or dwelling and felony bail jumping. Police arrested Midtlien for stealing a crossbow and speakers, according to the criminal complaint.
Keith A. Stankey

Keith A. Stankey, 27, West Salem, was charged July 17 with possession of methamphetamine as a repeat offender. During a drug court hold arrest, police discovered meth in his pocket, according to the criminal complaint.
Rymone D. Taylor

Rymone D. Taylor, 24, Fountain City, Wis., was charged July 17 with possession with intent to deliver Schedule IV drugs. Police were investigating drug activity and discovered 2 milligrams of Xanax in his possession, according to the criminal complaint.
Andre L. Robinson Jr.

Andre L. Robinson Jr., 21, of La Crosse was charged July 16 with attempting to flee or elude an officer, misdemeanor battery, misdemeanor bail jumping and disorderly conduct. Police arrested Robinson after a 1.2-mile vehicle pursuit after receiving reports about Robinson physically assaulting a woman, according to the complaint, according to the criminal complaint.
Charles R. Hotchkiss

Charles R. Hotchkiss, 47, of La Crosse was charged July 16 with operating while intoxicated and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration (fifth- or sixth-offense). Police arrested Hotchkiss after he failed a field sobriety test and had a preliminary breath test result of 0.284 percent, according to the criminal complaint.
Donald F. Greeno

Donald F. Greeno, 61, of La Crosse was charged July 16 with felony bail jumping, misdemeanor retail theft and possession of illegally obtained prescription, a repeat offender. Police arrested Greeno after he attempted to steal merchandise, according to the criminal complaint.
Ronald W. Francis

Ronald W. Francis, 44, of La Crosse was charged July 16 with felony bail jumping and attempted misdemeanor theft. Police arrested Francis for attempting to steal a meat grinder, according to the criminal complaint.
Christopher Samuel Burkhart

Christopher Samuel Burkhart, 37, of La Crosse was charged July 16 with felony bail jumping, misdemeanor theft, obstructing an officer causing a soft tissue injury to officer (repeater), possession of methamphetamine (repeater), felony bail jumping (repeater) and misdemeanor bail jumping (repeater). Burkhart resisted police trying to arrest him for stealing a bike and, during the pursuit, an officer sustained minor injuries to his elbow and shoulder, according to the criminal complaint.
Davonte J. Bradley

Davonte J. Bradley, 26, Toledo, Ohio, was charged July 16 as a fugitive. Bradley has an arrest warrant from the state of Ohio, according to the criminal complaint.
Shawn M. Jakubowski

Shawn M. Jakubowski, 45, of Stoddard was charged July 15 as a fugitive. He was arrested for a warrant from Winona County, Minn., according to the criminal complaint.
Helmer Jafet Alcocer Cruz

Helmer Jafet Alcocer Cruz, 46, Germantown, Wis., was charged July 12 with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (fourth-offense), failure to install ignition interlock device, operating with prohibited alcohol concentration (fourth-offense) and felony bail jumping. Police arrested Cruz after he failed a sobriety test, according to the criminal complaint.
Brent A. Moen

Brent A. Moen, 43, Whitehall, was charged July 12 with possession of methamphetamine, forgery and possession of drug paraphernalia, as a repeat offender. Police arrested Moen after discovering drugs in his pocket and fake currency, according to the criminal complaint.
Holly A. Ness

Holly A. Ness, 56, Onalaska, was charged July 12 with possession of methamphetamine and possession of a controlled substance. Police discovered drugs in Ness’s possession while arresting her for a La Crosse County warrant, according to the criminal complaint.
Daniel T. Roop
Daniel T. Roop, 53, La Crosse, was charged July 11 with resisting an officer and felony bail jumping. Police arrested Roop for operating while intoxicated, first offense, according to the criminal complaint.
Breanna M. Dvorak

Breanna M. Dvorak, 33, La Crosse, was charged July 11 with possession of narcotic drugs, misdemeanor retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia, a repeat offender. Dvorak admitted to stealing items from a hardware store and police discovered drugs in her purse during her arrest, according to the criminal complaint.
Antion D. Edmond

Antion D. Edmond, 39, La Crosse, was charged July 11 with third-degree sexual assault, misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct. Police arrested Edmond after sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend, according to the criminal complaint.
Kenneth D. Jackson
Kenneth D. Jackson, 32, La Crosse, was charged July 11 with operating a motor vehicle while revoked, operating with restricted controlled substance in blood (third offense), resisting an officer, possession of THC and felony bail jumping. Police arrested Jackson for a La Crosse County Warrant and a probation warrant, according to the criminal complaint.
Allen C. Kruk

Allen C. Kruk, 34, no permanent address, was charged July 11 with possession of methamphetamine and felony bail jumping. Police discovered about 0.5 grams of a crystalized substance while arresting Kruk for a felony warrant, according to the criminal complaint.
Chue Yee Xiong, Jack T. Vang and Rachael W. McBain

Holmen police arrested three after discovering a gun, a knife and drugs, according to the criminal complaint, and they were charged July 10.
Chue Yee Xiong, 30, La Crosse, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, felony bail jumping, misdemeanor bail jumping and possession of drug paraphernalia, as a repeat offender, according to the criminal complaint.
Jack T. Vang, 29, Onalaska, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, misdemeanor bail jumping and obstructing an officer, as a repeat offender, according to the criminal complaint.
Rachael W. McBain, 28, West Salem, charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, felony bail jumping, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia, as a repeat offender, according to the criminal complaint.
Chad M. Downs

Chad M. Downs, 27, La Crosse, was charged July 10 with first-degree recklessly endangering safety, attempting to flee or elude an officer, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal damage to property and criminal trespass. Police arrested Downs after an 0.8-mile vehicle pursuit because Downs ignored police attempting to stop him for traffic violations, according to the criminal complaint.
Davial A. Winchel

Davial A. Winchel, 36, no permanent address, was charged July 10 with possession of methamphetamine. Police were investigating Winchel for a separate incident and arrested her after discovering 1.7 grams of meth, according to the criminal complaint.
Dustin M. Barnes

Dustin M. Barnes, 29, Warrens, Wis., was charged July 9 as a fugitive. Barnes is being extradited from Houston County, Minn., according to the criminal complaint.
Joseph A. Hoover

Joseph A. Hoover, 38, La Crosse, was charged July 9 with theft of movable property. Police arrested Hoover for the theft of two bikes, each valued at more than $2,500, according to the criminal complaint.
Jesus C. Sanchez

Jesus C. Sanchez, 42, La Crosse, was charged July 9 as a fugitive. Sanchez is being extradited from Houston County, Minn., according to the criminal complaint.
Mark Alan Scheideman

Mark Alan Scheideman, 31, Madison, was charged July 9 with misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct at police department, resisting an officer and felony bail jumping. Police arrested Scheideman after creating a disturbance in the lobby of the Holmen Police Department, according to the criminal complaint.
Eric M. Stevens

Eric M. Stevens, 48, La Crosse, was charged July 8 with misdemeanor theft, felony bail jumping, possession of methamphetamine and felony bail jumping. Police arrested Stevens for a justice sanctions felony warrant and discovered a crystallized residue in Steven’s fanny pack while searching him, according to the criminal complaint.
Manuel D. Balboa

Manuel D. Balboa, 46, Holmen, was charged July 8 with felony bail jumping and felony retail theft. Police arrested Balboa, a former Walmart employee, for stealing items valued at about $700 and violating a no-contact bond condition with the Walmart store in Onalaska, according to the criminal complaint.
Greg M. Porter

Greg M. Porter, 32, La Crosse, was charged July 8 with battery to a law enforcement officer, felony bail jumping, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct, a repeat offender. Porter threw a windowsill fan at police who were at the residence investigating a domestic-abuse complaint, according to the criminal complaint.
Darion C. Thomas

Darion C. Thomas, 23, La Crosse, was charged July 8 with felony intimidation of a victim (use of a dangerous weapon), disorderly conduct (use of a dangerous weapon) and misdemeanor bail jumping, all with domestic-abuse enhancers. Police arrested Thomas for violating a no-contact bond condition and threatening to shoot the victim with a gun, according to the criminal complaint.
Jeffery A. Berry

Jeffery A. Berry, 56, La Crosse, was charged July 5 as a fugitive. Berry is being extradited to Winona County, Minn., according to the complaint.
Darrill Hall

Darrill Hall, 52, La Crosse, was charged July 5 as a fugitive. Hall is being extradited to the County of Clayton, Iowa, according to the criminal complaint.
Quandarius Antoine Moorer

Quandarius Antoine Moorer, 28, Onalaska, was charged July 5 with two counts of obstructing an officer, possession with intent to deliver THC, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police arrested Moorer, who had a warrant for his arrest, after a foot pursuit, according to the criminal complaint.
Monica A. Thompson

Monica A. Thompson, 21, La Crosse, was charged July 5 with felony bail jumping and disorderly conduct. Police arrested Thompson after breaking up a fight between her and another person in front of a bar on the 200 block of Pearl St., according to the criminal complaint.
Helmer Jafet Alcocer Cruz

Helmer Jafet Alcocer Cruz, 46, Germantown, Wis., was charged July 3 with felony bail jumping. Police arrested Cruz after he violated a no-alcohol bond condition, according to the criminal complaint.
Dustin D. Birnbaum

Dustin D. Birnbaum, 48, La Crosse, was charged July 3 with felony bail jumping, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a concealed knife. Police arrested Birnbaum after he violated a no-alcohol bond condition, had a preliminary breath test result of 0.189 percent, and after police discovered marijuana in his pocket and a knife in his backpack, according to the criminal complaint.
Steven T. Brown

Steven T. Brown, 46, La Crosse, was charged July 3 with felony bail jumping and operating a motor vehicle while revoked. Police arrested Brown because he was driving with a revoked driving status, according to the criminal complaint.
James Arthur Draeving

James Arthur Draeving, 53, La Crosse, was charged July 3 with stalking, two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping, knowingly violated a domestic abuse temporary restraining order and knowingly violated a domestic abuse injunction, all with a domestic abuse enhancer. Police arrested Draeving after he violated a temporary restraining order by sending several emails to the victim and contacting her neighbors in an attempt to surveillance her, according to the criminal complaint.
Tyler W. Stearns

Tyler W. Stearns, 23, Onalaska, was charged July 3 with uttering a forgery and fraud against a financial institution (value exceeds $500 but does not exceed $10,000). Stearns was arrested after depositing a fraudulent check, according to the criminal complaint.
John P. Young
John P. Young, 34, Onalaska, was charged July 2 with felony bail jumping and operating a motor vehicle while revoked. Police arrested Young after his father reported he was high and driving a vehicle with a revoked driving status, according to the criminal complaint.
Wade Darrel Lunniss

Wade Darrel Lunniss, 62, of Billings, Mont., was taken into custody in La Crosse County on June 29 as a fugitive after being charged with a felony in Billings, Mont. Lunniss was charged with impersonating a public servant in Billings, Mont., and failed to maintain contact with his attorney as ordered by the Montana District Court, according to the complaint
Bryon J. Hembd

Bryon J. Hembd, 62, of Holmen, was taken into custody in La Crosse County on June 30 as a fugitive after being charged with a misdemeanor in Chisago County, Minn. Hembd was charged with a DWI in Minnesota, and violated the pretrial release violation report, according to the complaint.
David R. Swertfeger

David R Swertfeger, 40, of La Crosse, was charged July 1 with felony bail jumping. On June 25, police responded to a theft call at My Place Bar where a victim claimed their wallet and other belongings were taken from the bar top. After the responding officer reviewed surveillance tape, police determined Swertfeger was the perpetrator. Swertfeger was in custody on a different call, and under 24 hour suicide surveillance, and was unable to be interviewed regarding the theft at the bar. These charges were added to existing charges, according to the complaint.
The building at 333 Vine St. is a criminal justice hub. The La Crosse County Courthouse and Law Enforcement Center, which opened in 1997 with …