Richland County Sheriff's Office

Sex Offender Information Bulletin Community Notification

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Area Residents:

The Richland Center Police Department is releasing the following information pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 301.46(2m) which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release when, in the discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety, awareness and protection.

The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense that requires registration with the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Program (SORP). Further, this individual’s previous history places him in a classification level that reflects the potential to re-offend.

This sex offender has served the prison sentence imposed on him by the courts. THIS PERSON IS NOT WANTED BY POLICE. This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.

Sex offenders have always lived in our communities, but it was not until the Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Law was enacted, that law enforcement was able to share this information with the community.

Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated.

Date of photo: 02-2019

Vernon R. Washington, age 38. In 2005, he was convicted in Richland County Court of two counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. The victim was a 15-year-old female. He is described as follows:

Male/Black, 5’9”, 153 pounds, black hair, brown eyes.

Alias- “Vielo”

RESIDENCE:

Upon release from incarceration on April 9th, 2019, Vernon Washington will be living at 307 S. Church Street, Apt. #2 in the City of Richland Center.

EMPLOYMENT:

Employment will be approved by the Department of Corrections. No contact with minors.

SUPERVISION PLAN:

  1. No unsupervised contact with minors.
  2. No taverns/bars/liquor stores. Not to consume alcohol or drugs.
  3. Comply with standard sex offender rules.
  4. Comply with any recommended treatment.
  5. Comply with lifetime registration with the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Program.
  6. Comply with electronic monitoring (GPS).

Agency Contacts:

Department of Corrections, Division of Community Corrections- Agent Mary Collins-Johnsrud, 647-4848.

Richland Center Police Department- Chief Lucas Clements, 647-2103.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

To learn more about the Sex Offender Registration Program in the State of Wisconsin, or to obtain information on other registered sex offenders living in the Richland Center area, please visit the sex offender registration website at http://offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/.

To obtain information on anyone under supervision please visit the State of Wisconsin, Department of Correction’s website at http://doc.wi.gov/Home.

*This bulletin was prepared by the Richland County Sex Offender Registration Notification Team.

Make EVERY Day A Drug-Take Back Day

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ALWAYS AVAILABLE… EASY TO USE… SAFE… EVERY DAY.

MedReturn is committed to providing a safe, simple, secure and environmentally friendly way to help law enforcement agencies and communities collect unwanted or expired household medication, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and unused pharmaceuticals in locations throughout the U.S.A.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has MedReturn boxes located on the 2nd floor of the Courthouse in the Sheriff’s Department lobby.

We accept: Prescription patches, medications and ointments; OTC meds, vitamins & supplements, samples, pet meds, liquid meds in leakproof containers, homeopathic remedies, suppositories.

We do not accept: Needles or sharps, syringes with needles, thermometers, IV bags, bloody or infectious waste, personal care products, empty containers, hydrogen peroxide, aerosol cans, inhalers, medication from businesses.

Alert Off-Duty Deputy Leads to Drug Arrests

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Chief Lucas Clements of the Richland Center Police Department reports that two men were arrested over the weekend on various drug related charges.

Kiefer J. Beran, 27, was arrested and tentatively charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Resisting/Obstructing an Officer.

Logan J. Lenz, 27 of Arena, was arrested and tentatively charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Chief Clements stated that the investigation started when Kiefer Beran was seen in the Richland Center Walmart by an off-duty Deputy of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, who was familiar with Beran through numerous police contacts.  The Deputy was also aware that Beran had an active arrest warrant through the Department of Corrections (DOC).

The Deputy then contacted on-duty Officers with the Richland Center Police Department and informed them of Beran’s location.  On duty Officers from the Richland Center Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department were able to make contact with Beran after conducting a traffic stop of the vehicle that he was a passenger in.

Beran was then taken into custody on the DOC warrant. The subsequent investigation found Beran to be in possession of numerous items associated with the injection of controlled substances.  Also, found in Beran’s jacket were a loaded syringe and four (4) separate baggies containing methamphetamine with a combined weight of 15.1 grams.  In addition, Beran was also found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana.  The driver of the vehicle, Logan Lenz, was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.

All charges have been forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Chief Clements states that this investigation was the result of the diligence of the off-duty Deputy. Chief Clements also commented on the sound law enforcement tactics displayed by Officers and Deputies on patrol who responded, which allowed them to apprehend Beran on the DOC warrant and then conduct a thorough investigation that resulted in numerous charges and a substantial amount of methamphetamine being taken off the street.

Any citizen who has information concerning any illegal activity is encouraged to call the Richland Center Police Department at 608-647-2103 or the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 608-647-2016.  Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 647-CLUE (2583) and may be eligible for a cash reward.

 

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Fire Investigation Leads to Drug Arrests

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Chief Lucas Clements of the Richland Center Police Department reports that, on 2-24-19, Officers responded to a residential house fire at 1152 N. Central Ave., in the City of Richland Center.

Upon contact with the residence, Officers located the renter of the home, who had been the sole occupant of the residence, in her vehicle outside. Officers observed indications of fire within the residence, but were unable to enter because of the smoke. The Richland Center Fire Department was requested and was able to extinguish the fire, containing it to a bedroom. The rest of the residence suffered moderate smoke damage.

During the subsequent investigation, Officers located a small amount of suspected methamphetamine and items recognized by Officers to be used to ingest methamphetamine. The renter was questioned and admitted to the possession of the drug and drug related items. The source of the fire was investigated by Deputy State Fire Marshals from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, in conjunction with RCPD and RCFD officials, and no evidence of intentional arson was found.

As a result of the investigation, Ronda K. Leffler, 53 of Richland Center, was arrested and tentatively charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Felony Bail Jumping.

All of the above listed drug related charges also carry a potential penalty enhancer because the offences took place within 1,000 feet of a park. All charges have been forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

In addition to the RCFD and the State Fire Marshals, Officers were assisted on scene by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Richland County EMS, Richland Center City Utilities, and the Richland County District Attorney’s Office.

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Don’t Buy Into Publishers Clearinghouse Phone Scam

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The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has recently taken a fraud complaint in which the victim received a phone call informing them that they had won the “Publisher’s Clearing House” prize.  The prize included $2.5 million dollars, a 2019 Mercedes Benz, and a duffle bag with $400,000 in cash.  The male party that called stated that the victim needed to send $753 to claim the prize and register the new vehicle.

The victim, recognizing this as a scam, contacted the Sheriff’s Department to report it prior to sending any money.  Law enforcement contacted the Publisher’s Clearing House Scam Hotline and it was determined that this was an attempted fraud.

Sheriff Bindl advises the public to contact the Sheriff’s Department if they feel they are being scammed, and to not send any money to claim any “prize”.  Publisher’s Clearing House also encourages the public to report any fraudulent behavior using their name at 1-800-392-4190

High Visibility Seatbelt Enforcement

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Date: February 11, 2019
For more information contact: Sheriff James J. Bindl  608-647-2106

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department to mobilize for a High Visibility Seatbelt Enforcement campaign beginning in February.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department, along with The Viola Police Department and The Lone Rock Police Department will join hundreds of other law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin for a safety belt enforcement campaign throughout 2019.

“We enforce Wisconsin’s mandatory safety belt law – not to write citations – but to help save lives and prevent needless injuries,” said Sheriff Bindl. “Right now in Wisconsin, we know that about nine of 10 motorists consistently wear a safety belt. We also know that the 10 percent who fail to buckle up account for nearly half of the drivers and passengers killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes each year.”

The state’s safety belt use rate of 89.4 percent is the highest ever, but still lags behind the national average. Last year in Wisconsin, there were 58,899 traffic convictions for failure to fasten a seat belt.

In Wisconsin, law enforcement officers can stop and cite motorists for failing to wear a safety belt. In addition, drivers can be cited for every unbuckled passenger in their vehicle. “Again, this is about preventing injuries and saving lives,” Sheriff Bindl said. “Before hitting the road, drivers need to ensure that everyone is buckled up, every seat, every trip.”

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#ClickItOrTicket

House extensively damaged by fire in the Village of Gotham

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The Richland County Communications Center received a 911 call at 7:22pm of a house on fire at 32793 Fulton Street in Gotham, Wisconsin. The Lone Rock Fire Department, Lone Rock EMS and Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies responded. Flames were visible from the structure as units arrived. A mutual aid request was put out for the Richland Center and Muscoda Fire Departments to assist. Firefighters battling the blaze also fought single digit temperatures and very strong winds. The house, owned by Scott and Vicki Sander and occupied by Steven Baker and Nichole Weiland, sustained extensive damage. The occupants escaped injury. Fire units were on the scene for about 5 hours. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

 

Richland County shows solidarity for fallen Milwaukee Officer

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Deputies of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department are wearing black mourning bands across their badges in honor of the Milwaukee Police Department Officer who was killed in the line of duty yesterday. Law Enforcement everywhere mourn the death of this brother in blue who gave the ultimate sacrifice protecting the citizens of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Our prayers are with his family, and our brothers and sisters at the Milwaukee Police Department.

Grand Jury Returns Indictment

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Richland Center Police Chief Lucas Clements would like to pass on a press release from the United States Department of Justice, involving the indictment of a Richland Center resident for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to deliver.

MADISON, WIS. — A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictment.  You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Joshua Clarke, 31, Richland Center, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.  The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on November 11, 2018.

Link to initial press release https://ci.richland-center.wi.us/traffic-stop-ends-in-arrests/

Joshua D. Clarke

If convicted, Clarke faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Richland Center Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County District Attorney’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma.

Two Car Crash with Injuries

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On 01/18/19 Richland County Dispatch received the report of a 2 vehicle crash on County Hwy N just east of the city of Richland Center.  Law Enforcement as well as Fire and EMS responded to the scene.

The driver of the full sized van, identified as Jaron Neunschwander-Luebke age 26 of Richland Center, was westbound on County Hwy N when he lost control of his vehicle negotiating a down hill curve and crossed the center line into the path of an eastbound Dodge mini van, operated by 39 yr old Scott Coppernoll of Richland Center.  The vehicles collided head on with the Ford van coming to rest on the north edge of the highway and the mini van resting in the south ditch.

Scott Coppernoll, his 37 year old wife Kelly Coppernoll and their four children were injured in the crash, as was the other operator, Jaron Neunschwander-Luebke. Scott and Kelly Coppernoll were trapped in the wreckage and were extricated by the Richland Center Fire Department’s Jaws of Life.  All injured parties were transported to the Richland Hospital by Richland County EMS and Baraboo EMS.  Jaron Neunschwander-Luebke and the four juveniles were treated and released.  Scott and Kelly Coppernoll were transported by Baraboo EMS to UW Hospital in Madison where they are listed in stable condition.

Jaron Neunschwander-Luebke was arrested and charged with operating while revoked causing great bodily harm.  The charges are being referred to the Richland County District Attorneys Office.  The incident remains under investigation.

WHEN: 01-18-19          TIME of Incident: 2:35PM        Location: County Hwy N just east of Richland Center

WHO INVOLVED:
Jaron Neunschwander-Luebke, 26 of Richland Center
Scott Coppernoll, 39 of Richland Center
Kelly Coppernoll, 37 of Richland Center

Other Agencies Involved:
Richland County EMS
Baraboo EMS
Richland Center Fire Department
Richland Center Police Department
Richland County District Attorneys Office