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[dramatic music]

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♪ ♪

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- Hi, everyone, I'm Dan Abrams,
and this is "Court Cam."

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- You should be ashamed
of yourself.

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- I want dude off my case.
[spits]

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♪ ♪

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- Got a runner.

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[people yelling]

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- Get out!

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- This is not TV court.
This is for real.

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♪ ♪

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- First up, we go
to Waukesha, Wisconsin,

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for a bond status hearing.

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♪ ♪

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29-year-old Deonta Woods has
been charged with possession

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of THC, possession
of drug paraphernalia,

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and other
drug-related charges.

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♪ ♪

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Five months earlier,
Woods was arrested,

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pled not guilty,
and released on $4,000 bond.

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But three months later,
Woods violated his bond

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when he was arrested
in Milwaukee County

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for alleged manufacturing
of fentanyl

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and possession of fentanyl
and cocaine.

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♪ ♪

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Today, after posting
a new $15,000 bond

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in the Milwaukee County case,
Woods appears before

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Judge Paul Bugenhagen
to discuss

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his original bond status,

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and when the judge announces
he's raising his bond

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to $20,000, Woods takes off.

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♪ ♪

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Woods, who's not in cuffs,
runs for the exit

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as a nearby member
of his family

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trips and falls to the floor

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while seemingly trying
to stop him.

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Deputies quickly send
an alert over the radio.

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♪ ♪

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- As Woods races down the hall

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towards another exit...

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♪ ♪

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With deputies in hot pursuit,
he heads down these stairs.

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♪ ♪

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- Woods makes it outside,
but appears to be trapped.

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- But he doesn't seem ready
to give up yet

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as deputies close in.

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- After hopping the fence,
Woods sprints

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away from the building.

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- He then heads toward
the parking lot

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and appears he might get away.

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- But he's soon spotted
less than a mile away,

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near a manufacturing company.

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- A few minutes later,
deputies finally catch up

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with Woods.

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- The deputy uses a taser
to subdue the defendant,

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and officers take Woods
back into custody.

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Woods is charged with escape,
four counts of bail jumping,

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and obstructing an officer.

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If convicted
of these new charges,

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he faces
over 30 years in prison.

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A judge set his new bond
at $25,000,

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and Woods, who pled
not guilty to the charges,

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remains in custody.

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All of his cases are pending.

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♪ ♪

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♪ ♪

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Next, we're in Port Townsend,
Washington

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for an arraignment.

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37-year-old
Ariel Shultz Armijo

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has been charged
with two counts of assault

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and disorderly conduct.

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♪ ♪

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A day earlier, police say

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Shultz-Armijo,
whose pronouns are they/them,

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was at a gas station when
they got into a confrontation

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with two different people.

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Police were called,

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and Shultz Armijo
was arrested.

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♪ ♪

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Today, Shultz Armijo appears
from the county jail

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before Judge Mindy Walker
to hear if they'll make bond.

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- Hello, Miss Shultz.

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- They're without
their lawyer,

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but public defender Jack Range
is present if needed.

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- Miss Shultz,
you should have received

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a document from jail staff,

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and at the top, it says
"acknowledgment

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of defendants' rights."

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And it lists all the rights
that you have as a defendant.

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Do you see that form?

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- OK, thank you.

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Did you sign that form?

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- I understand, Miss Shultz.

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What I'm asking you is
if you signed that form.

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- And then I answered you.

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I said I did not have
that particular right,

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and then I signed it.

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♪ ♪

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- All right, I've looked
at the police report

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that's associated with those
particular allegations.

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- So Mr. Range is
in the courtroom today to--

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Actually.
- But he's here to--

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- OK, Miss Shultz--

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- Well, he's here
to represent you today.

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Mr. Range?

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♪ ♪

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- OK, thank you.

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- It's OK.

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You don't know me
because we've never met.

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♪ ♪

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- I am finding probable cause

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for all three
of these allegations,

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and I'm going to enter pleas
of not guilty on your behalf.

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- Also, the last time
I was in jail,

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the court handled
a protection order for me.

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And they did not pick up
the intimate photos

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that my husband has.

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♪ ♪

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And it was actually
not handled at all,

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and that was what I was
supposed to handle before,

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and I would actually like to
bring that to your attention.

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There is my husband out there,
who's former special forces,

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who sent me threatening
text messages of things

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he stole from my home.

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- So that's something
that you'll wanna talk--

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- And that was
brought up beforehand.

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- Despite the defendant's
unrelated and unsubstantiated

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allegations regarding
their divorce case,

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the judge remains focused and
checks in with the prosecutor.

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- All right, so listen,
right now,

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it's Mr. Ashcraft's turn
to talk,

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and so I'm going to ask
for conditions of release

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from Mr. Ashcraft.
- Hey, Your Honor.

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At this point, the state's
not asking for any bail.

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We just ask that she give
the court an address and--

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- OK, Miss, I need you
to not say anything

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because we can only have
one person talking at a time.

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- OK, well, he--
he has been saying--

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- I'm going to--

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I'm going to have
the jail mute you

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if you cannot
sit there quietly.

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♪ ♪

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- If the jail would please
put the device on mute.

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♪ ♪

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- After muting Shultz Armijo,

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the judge returns
to the prosecutor.

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- Conditions of release please.

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Notify the court if there's
a change in the address.

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I have no further
violations of the law,

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and we're asking for
anti-harassment orders.

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Also, not go back
to the Mobil station

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on Sims Way, which is where
all this appears to happen.

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That's all, Your Honor.
- OK, thank you.

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I am going to go along
with those conditions.

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- As Shultz Armijo
continues speaking

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and gesturing to the camera,
Judge Walker wraps things up.

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- So that concludes
your hearing today.

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OK?
[gavel bangs]

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- Thank you.

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- Shultz Armijo
was later released

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on their own recognizance.

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Their case is pending.

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- Next, we head
to Ypsilanti, Michigan,

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for a sentencing hearing.

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♪ ♪

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47-year-old Kevin LaCroix
has been convicted

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of unlawful imprisonment,
domestic violence,

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and assault with intent
to do great bodily harm.

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♪ ♪

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Two years earlier, LaCroix,
who was already on parole

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for a number
of violent offenses,

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assaulted his domestic partner
and was arrested.

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He pled not guilty, but a jury
convicted him on all charges.

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♪ ♪

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Today, LaCroix appears
in the county jail

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before Judge Patrick Conlin
to hear his sentence.

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But this is actually
the court's second attempt

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at the sentencing.

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Two weeks earlier, the judge
tried to sentence LaCroix

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in a virtual hearing,

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but LaCroix left the call
before he could finish.

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And later,
LaCroix filed several motions

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with the court,
including requests to remove

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the judge
and his own attorney,

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Sam Bernstein, from the case.

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Before Judge Conlin
gives LaCroix's sentencing

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another try,
he addresses the motions.

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- The motion to disqualify
the judge is denied.

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The motion to discharge
trial counsel is denied.

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The motion for a new trial,

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a judgment
notwithstanding the verdict,

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has been denied.

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♪ ♪

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But I am going to proceed
to sentence on this matter.

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- I move for immediate review
of the motion

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to disqualify
by the chief judge

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of the circuit court,
Your Honor.

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- OK, well, you don't have
that option today,

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but I am going to move
to sentence you today.

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- It seems LaCroix
is not happy

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with the judge's decision

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and reprises
his disappearing act.

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♪ ♪

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- OK, so what I'm going to ask,

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if you will recall
the last time

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this happened,
if Mr. LaCroix does not wish

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to participate voluntarily,
he may be removed to his cell,

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and I would ask
that you set up

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a computer monitor
outside of his cell,

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and I'll proceed to sentence.
OK?

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I'm going to do this
from now on to you--

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to you, Judge,
for being the way

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that you're acting, the way
that you are being improper.

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When I make a motion
for the chief judge

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of the circuit to hear it,
he's not allowed to say no.

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♪ ♪

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- OK.
Well, pause for a moment.

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We'll let-- we'll let
you know when we're ready.

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- After setting up a camera
outside the defendant's cell,

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Judge Conlin tries again.

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♪ ♪

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LaCroix refuses to cooperate.

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- This time, I've directed
staff at the jail to...

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- Return him to his cell
and to place a computer device

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that Mr. LaCroix
can hear and see.

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I can see a person
in his cell, although

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there is covering
over the window.

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My assumption is
that is the defendant,

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and so at this time,
we are ready to proceed.

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- Prosecutor Jessica Blanch
reminds the court

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LaCroix has a lengthy
criminal record.

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- The defendant has
12 prior felonies,

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25 prior misdemeanors,
most of which

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involves hurting
other individuals.

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He was on parole when
he committed this offense.

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He's taken no accountability
for his actions.

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He's been disrespectful
to this court.

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In fact,
he walked off screen

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when the victim was making
an impact statement

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two weeks ago.

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Thank you.
- OK.

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Mr. Bernstein,
do you wish to comment?

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- Well, I can say Mr. LaCroix
has done good in his life.

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He served the Navy honorably,

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and following that,
he continued his service

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by working
with defense contractors and...

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- Going all over the world
to be

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in different countries
and serving

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the purposes of our country.

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- Mr. LaCroix,
is there anything

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you wish to state before
I impose sentence today?

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OK.

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It is a sentence of the court
that you serve 9 to 15 years

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of a term of incarceration,
concurrent to count

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one, two, three, and four

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and consecutive to the parole.

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00:12:00,720 --> 00:12:05,024
- LaCroix will be eligible
for parole in 2032.

258
00:12:05,158 --> 00:12:07,226
He'll be 56 years old.

259
00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:09,362
♪ ♪

260
00:12:13,066 --> 00:12:16,469
- Next, we're in El Dorado,
Kansas, for a plea hearing.

261
00:12:16,603 --> 00:12:19,172
♪ ♪

262
00:12:19,272 --> 00:12:22,108
31-year-old Davon Usher
has been charged with driving

263
00:12:22,242 --> 00:12:25,044
with a suspended license
and operating a vehicle

264
00:12:25,111 --> 00:12:26,879
without registration.

265
00:12:26,946 --> 00:12:28,481
♪ ♪

266
00:12:28,581 --> 00:12:32,952
Today, free on a $500 bond,
Usher appears remotely

267
00:12:33,052 --> 00:12:35,021
before Judge Phyllis Webster.

268
00:12:35,154 --> 00:12:38,591
He's represented by public
defender Darren Patterson.

269
00:12:38,691 --> 00:12:42,629
- Judge, if I may, I have
a client who is messaging me

270
00:12:42,762 --> 00:12:45,632
that he's in the airport
about to board,

271
00:12:45,698 --> 00:12:47,266
wanting to see if he could
do his court hearing

272
00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,135
before that would occur.

273
00:12:49,235 --> 00:12:50,970
- Is that Davon Usher?

274
00:12:51,070 --> 00:12:52,472
- Yes, Your Honor.

275
00:12:52,605 --> 00:12:54,240
- You're in which airport?

276
00:12:54,340 --> 00:12:55,441
- How are you doing,
Your Honor?

277
00:12:55,508 --> 00:12:58,478
I'm actually coming
from St. Louis.

278
00:12:58,544 --> 00:13:00,480
I had to go back to Maryland
this weekend

279
00:13:00,546 --> 00:13:02,415
for a family funeral
on Saturday.

280
00:13:02,515 --> 00:13:05,351
So I've been on, but
I'm afraid to lose service

281
00:13:05,418 --> 00:13:06,919
once we get in the air.

282
00:13:06,986 --> 00:13:08,755
- All right, fair enough.

283
00:13:08,855 --> 00:13:10,990
- Before Usher's
flight takes off,

284
00:13:11,090 --> 00:13:12,925
Patterson goes over the plea.

285
00:13:13,026 --> 00:13:14,427
- Would announce at this time,

286
00:13:14,560 --> 00:13:17,230
Mr. Usher is wanting
to enter a plea of guilty

287
00:13:17,296 --> 00:13:18,865
to driving while suspended.

288
00:13:18,998 --> 00:13:22,268
State has agreed to dismiss
the other case altogether.

289
00:13:22,402 --> 00:13:26,439
- Mr. Usher, how do you plead
to driving while suspended?

290
00:13:26,539 --> 00:13:28,608
- I plead guilty, Your Honor.

291
00:13:28,675 --> 00:13:33,513
- Did this happen
October 11 of 2022?

292
00:13:33,646 --> 00:13:35,348
♪ ♪

293
00:13:40,586 --> 00:13:41,754
- Hang on.

294
00:13:41,821 --> 00:13:43,089
I think we're
misunderstanding each other.

295
00:13:43,189 --> 00:13:44,824
Are you actually
on the airplane,

296
00:13:44,957 --> 00:13:46,259
getting ready to leave?

297
00:13:46,392 --> 00:13:47,393
- We didn't take off yet.

298
00:13:47,460 --> 00:13:49,529
♪ ♪

299
00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:55,835
- OK, but now looking back
on it, you believe

300
00:13:55,968 --> 00:13:58,638
your license was suspended
at the time you were driving?

301
00:13:58,705 --> 00:14:01,441
♪ ♪

302
00:14:01,541 --> 00:14:02,508
- No.

303
00:14:02,642 --> 00:14:04,243
♪ ♪

304
00:14:04,310 --> 00:14:06,412
- Then why are you
pleading guilty?

305
00:14:06,512 --> 00:14:08,014
- 'Cause I'm not from Kansas,

306
00:14:08,114 --> 00:14:10,917
so I just want to hurry up
and get the case over with,

307
00:14:10,983 --> 00:14:12,552
defended, so I won't,
like, miss any dates

308
00:14:12,652 --> 00:14:13,820
or anything like that.

309
00:14:13,953 --> 00:14:15,755
I'm just trying to,
you know, just get it--

310
00:14:15,822 --> 00:14:16,989
just get it taken care of.

311
00:14:18,658 --> 00:14:21,194
- Mr. Patterson--

312
00:14:24,664 --> 00:14:28,334
- Sounds like Usher's flight
is getting ready to depart.

313
00:14:28,434 --> 00:14:33,806
- Do you need to turn off your
phone for departure, Mr. Usher?

314
00:14:46,352 --> 00:14:48,187
- So even though
you may be not guilty,

315
00:14:48,321 --> 00:14:50,390
you think you still want
to enter a plea?

316
00:14:50,490 --> 00:14:51,657
♪ ♪

317
00:14:51,791 --> 00:14:55,995
- If it helps the case
get over with, then yes.

318
00:14:56,062 --> 00:14:59,098
- Well, if the case gets over,
you have a class B misdemeanor

319
00:14:59,232 --> 00:15:00,967
conviction on your record.

320
00:15:01,033 --> 00:15:02,802
♪ ♪

321
00:15:02,902 --> 00:15:06,372
- OK, so I'm not--
not going to do it then.

322
00:15:06,472 --> 00:15:09,075
But, I mean, if they say
my license was suspended,

323
00:15:09,208 --> 00:15:10,676
then it must have
been suspended.

324
00:15:10,743 --> 00:15:12,078
I didn't know.

325
00:15:12,145 --> 00:15:15,281
I drove from Maryland
to Kansas to move here.

326
00:15:15,381 --> 00:15:18,518
- OK, well, I think we better
kind of put the brakes

327
00:15:18,584 --> 00:15:20,820
on this plea and--
- OK.

328
00:15:20,953 --> 00:15:22,355
♪ ♪

329
00:15:22,422 --> 00:15:24,457
- Because I think you need
to talk to your attorney

330
00:15:24,590 --> 00:15:26,926
more about this one.
- OK.

331
00:15:27,026 --> 00:15:28,461
OK, I will.

332
00:15:28,594 --> 00:15:30,963
- I would suggest you call
Mr. Patterson in his office

333
00:15:31,063 --> 00:15:32,265
between now and then.

334
00:15:39,672 --> 00:15:42,074
- It appears Usher
has a visitor.

335
00:15:47,313 --> 00:15:49,081
- I'll be in touch with you.
- OK.

336
00:15:49,182 --> 00:15:50,450
- I don't want
to get in trouble.

337
00:15:50,550 --> 00:15:51,551
- I don't want you get
in trouble

338
00:15:51,617 --> 00:15:52,552
or delay your flight.

339
00:15:52,652 --> 00:15:54,887
[quirky music]

340
00:15:54,987 --> 00:15:56,122
Mr. Usher, I'm letting--

341
00:15:59,625 --> 00:16:01,961
- Mr. Usher, go.

342
00:16:02,028 --> 00:16:03,830
Get off the phone.
You're excused.

343
00:16:03,896 --> 00:16:05,364
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.

344
00:16:05,464 --> 00:16:06,632
Get off your phone.
- Lady, you could've told me--

345
00:16:06,699 --> 00:16:07,633
- He's in trouble.

346
00:16:07,700 --> 00:16:10,369
♪ ♪

347
00:16:10,470 --> 00:16:11,804
OK.

348
00:16:11,871 --> 00:16:15,274
Mr. Patterson, I trust
you'll look after him.

349
00:16:15,408 --> 00:16:18,478
- I will do my best, Judge.
- OK.

350
00:16:18,544 --> 00:16:21,414
- Judge Webster
rescheduled the hearing,

351
00:16:21,514 --> 00:16:24,550
and three months later,
Usher pled guilty

352
00:16:24,617 --> 00:16:26,986
to the registration charge,
while the suspended

353
00:16:27,119 --> 00:16:29,589
license charge was dismissed.

354
00:16:29,722 --> 00:16:32,592
He was sentenced
to 30 days jail suspended

355
00:16:32,692 --> 00:16:34,594
and six months probation.

356
00:16:38,397 --> 00:16:40,199
- Next, we head
to Centreville, Michigan,

357
00:16:40,266 --> 00:16:41,868
for a sentencing hearing.

358
00:16:41,968 --> 00:16:44,270
♪ ♪

359
00:16:44,403 --> 00:16:47,607
50-year-old Norbert Herbert
Schroeder has pled guilty

360
00:16:47,673 --> 00:16:50,176
to operating while impaired.

361
00:16:50,276 --> 00:16:51,944
♪ ♪

362
00:16:52,078 --> 00:16:54,714
Schroeder, who has multiple
drunk driving convictions,

363
00:16:54,847 --> 00:16:57,116
including a pending case
in Indiana,

364
00:16:57,250 --> 00:16:58,751
is facing
a sentence of anywhere

365
00:16:58,851 --> 00:17:02,955
from probation
to five years in prison.

366
00:17:03,022 --> 00:17:05,558
Today, he appears before
Judge Jeffrey Middleton

367
00:17:05,625 --> 00:17:07,193
to hear his sentence.

368
00:17:07,260 --> 00:17:10,196
He's represented
by attorney Paul Gibson.

369
00:17:10,263 --> 00:17:13,199
- Mr. Gibson, what would you
like me to know?

370
00:17:13,266 --> 00:17:15,601
- The defendant
is asking for something

371
00:17:15,668 --> 00:17:19,171
as an alternative to jail time,
whether it be

372
00:17:19,272 --> 00:17:21,908
probation, community service.

373
00:17:22,041 --> 00:17:25,144
But he's asking
for leniency here.

374
00:17:25,278 --> 00:17:27,880
And he-- I'm sure
he has things to add.

375
00:17:27,947 --> 00:17:29,415
Thank you.

376
00:17:29,515 --> 00:17:32,084
- All right, Mr. Schroeder,
what would you like me to know?

377
00:17:32,184 --> 00:17:35,421
- Well, I-- you know,
I'm going through a divorce,

378
00:17:35,554 --> 00:17:40,259
and that kind of hit me
real hard after the holidays.

379
00:17:40,393 --> 00:17:42,595
You know, I know
that's not really an excuse,

380
00:17:42,695 --> 00:17:46,265
but, yeah, it hit me hard.

381
00:17:46,399 --> 00:17:50,536
- So you had one, two,
three, four

382
00:17:50,636 --> 00:17:52,838
in the 2000s...

383
00:17:52,939 --> 00:17:55,041
♪ ♪

384
00:17:55,141 --> 00:17:59,078
And then in 2014,
you got another drunk driving

385
00:17:59,178 --> 00:18:02,281
in Knox City, Indiana.
- Yes.

386
00:18:02,381 --> 00:18:04,283
- So this is
your sixth offense.

387
00:18:04,350 --> 00:18:06,953
You had a very high
blood alcohol level.

388
00:18:07,053 --> 00:18:10,189
You were driving very badly.
You crashed into a mailbox.

389
00:18:10,323 --> 00:18:11,390
♪ ♪

390
00:18:11,457 --> 00:18:13,459
I don't really want you
on probation.

391
00:18:13,592 --> 00:18:15,928
You got a charge pending
in Indiana.

392
00:18:21,133 --> 00:18:23,002
♪ ♪

393
00:18:23,102 --> 00:18:27,039
Saying that you had
a rough Christmas,

394
00:18:27,106 --> 00:18:28,874
then don't drive a car.

395
00:18:29,008 --> 00:18:30,876
♪ ♪

396
00:18:32,878 --> 00:18:34,880
- All right, you can go
with the officers.

397
00:18:34,947 --> 00:18:36,449
♪ ♪

398
00:18:36,515 --> 00:18:38,751
- Schroeder says goodbye
to a loved one

399
00:18:38,818 --> 00:18:43,956
before bailiffs take him
to jail to serve his 43 days,

400
00:18:44,023 --> 00:18:45,591
but a few minutes later,
a bailiff returns

401
00:18:45,691 --> 00:18:48,594
with some information
for the judge.

402
00:18:51,664 --> 00:18:53,432
♪ ♪

403
00:18:53,532 --> 00:18:57,737
- All right.
Well, we got him, so...

404
00:18:59,472 --> 00:19:00,873
- Well, if he's over, then--

405
00:19:01,007 --> 00:19:02,174
make sure they do.

406
00:19:02,274 --> 00:19:05,144
If he's over .08, we may
have to redo everything.

407
00:19:05,277 --> 00:19:06,512
- I'll make sure
that they do it.

408
00:19:06,646 --> 00:19:07,880
- All right.

409
00:19:07,947 --> 00:19:10,349
- After bailiffs conduct
a breathalyzer test,

410
00:19:10,483 --> 00:19:13,953
Judge Middleton has Schroeder
dial in from the jail.

411
00:19:14,020 --> 00:19:17,957
- Mr. Schroeder,
I ask that you come back.

412
00:19:18,024 --> 00:19:21,627
The bailiff indicated that
he felt you had been drinking.

413
00:19:21,761 --> 00:19:24,196
They gave you a preliminary
breath test at the jail,

414
00:19:24,263 --> 00:19:26,599
and the result was 0.16.

415
00:19:26,666 --> 00:19:28,534
♪ ♪

416
00:19:28,634 --> 00:19:31,771
So I can't sentence you
while you're intoxicated,

417
00:19:31,871 --> 00:19:36,475
so I find that you're
in contempt

418
00:19:36,609 --> 00:19:38,611
and order five days jail.

419
00:19:38,711 --> 00:19:41,313
I'm going to reset sentence

420
00:19:41,447 --> 00:19:45,618
for July 13 at 2:00 p.m.

421
00:19:45,751 --> 00:19:47,420
I could've let it stand,

422
00:19:47,553 --> 00:19:51,757
but the fact that
you're intoxicated

423
00:19:51,824 --> 00:19:55,594
takes away the fact that this
was a knowing and voluntary

424
00:19:55,661 --> 00:19:57,463
and understanding proceeding.

425
00:19:57,596 --> 00:20:00,299
♪ ♪

426
00:20:00,433 --> 00:20:02,835
- Schroeder served
five days for contempt

427
00:20:02,968 --> 00:20:06,172
and then was resentenced
to 43 days in jail

428
00:20:06,272 --> 00:20:08,908
for his latest OWI charge.

429
00:20:09,041 --> 00:20:10,643
As for his charge in Indiana,

430
00:20:10,710 --> 00:20:13,279
he pled guilty to operating
while intoxicated

431
00:20:13,379 --> 00:20:15,681
and was sentenced
to 60 days in jail,

432
00:20:15,781 --> 00:20:21,387
with 55 days suspended
plus one year probation.

433
00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:24,323
And that's it for
this edition of "Court Cam."

434
00:20:24,390 --> 00:20:26,792
I'm Dan Abrams.
Thanks for watching.

435
00:20:26,859 --> 00:20:31,330
♪ ♪