Latest news with #Fond
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Second defendant convicted in human trafficking sexual assault case in Fond du Lac
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – A second illegal immigrant found in Fond du Lac County has been convicted of human trafficking sexual assault involving his co-defendant's daughter. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney announced that Juan Carlos Rocha-Mejia was convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a child after pleading no contest. 42-year-old Wisconsin man arrested for 4th OWI after swerving in between multiple lanes Co-defendant Elia Antonio, the mother of the victim, was previously convicted of human trafficking of a child, failure to protect a child, and two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. Bond was revoked for Rocha-Mejia, and the judge ordered a pre-sentence investigation. 'Today is another step towards justice for the survivor, with the second defendant being convicted for a disgusting attack on a child,' said Toney. 'We look forward to the upcoming sentencing hearings to hold both defendants accountable and help the survivor move past the court process. I am grateful for the excellent investigative efforts by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office and ADA Menzl.' The investigation revealed that Rocha-Mejia and Antonio are illegally in the United States. The convictions stem from a sexual assault of Elia Antonio's daughter on March 18, 2024. Antonio gave her daughter to Rocha-Mejia to be sexually assaulted for approximately $250. Rocha-Mejia held the child in a van and attempted to duct-tape her as he began to sexually assault her. Multiple hurt in Sheboygan County crash involving dump truck, one severely injured The victim bravely fought back, biting Rocha-Mejia, and escaped to a nearby residence. The defendant's DNA and the survivor's DNA were found on duct tape located in the van. Rocha-Mejia faces up to 40 years of initial confinement. The sentencing hearing for Rocha-Mejia is scheduled for August 21, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., and the sentencing for Elia Antonio is set for the same day at 11:00 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New FDL program changing how authorities interact with homeless individuals
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – A new program is transforming how authorities handle police calls involving homeless individuals. Fond du Lac police chief Aaron Goldstein said they recently studied police call trends at their dispatch center. He said that between June 2024 through January 2025 they received about 200 police calls that involved homeless individuals. After doing an analysis of all the calls, Goldstein said that about 80 percent of them didn't require police enforcement, an individual just needed some help connecting to resources. Goldstein said this got him to thinking. 'I have a vision almost like we have our mental health program, to have a co-response like model to help the community experiencing homelessness,' Goldstein said. He said the police department has been using a co-response model with mental health professionals and social workers for many police calls. He wanted to use a similar model for police calls involving homeless individuals. Goldstein reached out to Amy Loof who is the executive director of 'Solutions Center Shelter and Support Service in Fond du Lac. They operate the St. Katharine Drexel Shelter to help those experiencing homelessness. This collaboration led to the creation of the Drexel Outreach Response Program. It got off the ground at the beginning of March. 'So anything that somebody is in need of or a resource that they need to be connected to we're doing that right there in the moment,' Loof told Local 5 News when asked about the importance of the program. 'Being able to connect with them at that moment and get them what they need or where they need to go in that moment is key.' Jason Schneider leads new era of Fond du Lac baseball A trained case manager from St. Katharine Drexel Shelter will help police respond to calls involving homeless individuals. In some cases, a police officer will make first contact with the individual, and then the case manager will be able to talk and help the individual after. In many other cases, Goldstein said that police enforcement isn't even needed so the case managers will be responding to the calls on their own. Loof said that in general homeless individuals are more comfortable interacting with case managers than police officers which is another reason why authorities began this program. When the case managers arrive to help the homeless individuals, they can try to on-board them into local shelters, provide them with supplies like hygiene kits or food, or help them with an array of other things depending on what that individual needs. 'It's amazing to know that we're getting those resources and meeting them where they are at, we aren't asking them to come where we are,' Goldstein said about the program. 'I think there's a lot more awareness as well. We're talking more about the unsheltered and the unhoused.' Manitowoc launches first public health vending machine to support opioid overdose prevention Goldstein said since the program began they've used case managers for 13 calls involving homeless individuals. Loof detailed one of those cases that happened recently at a Fond du Lac truck stop. 'Just a brief conversation with her we were able to do an intake form with her and get the background checks done with her while we were talking,' she told Local 5 News. 'We had an open bed, brought her into the shelter and she's doing very well and her mental health has stabilized.' 'Success is helping person at a time because everybody has their own individual needs,' Goldstein added. 'I believe you can have community standards and show compassion, understanding, and dignity to those who are unhoused and experiencing homelessness.' Loof said that before the COVID-19 pandemic there were around 150 people in Fond du Lac experiencing homelessness. She said that number has risen since then because of higher prices and a difficult housing market. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Yahoo
Chicago man arrested after trying to leave scene of Fond du Lac firearm incident in an Uber
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – A Chicago man who was wanted on a federal parole warrant was arrested after a firearm incident inside a Fond du Lac residence where five children were home at the time. A release from the Fond du Lac Police Department details the incident where a 31-year-old man from Chicago allegedly pointed a gun at a woman inside a home on North Butler Street. Around 11:45 p.m. on January 30, officers responded to a 911 call from a woman who stated that a man pointed a gun at her while they were inside the residence. Officers noted that five children ranging from newborn to 13 years old were inside the home as well. One injured in Campbellsport multi-unit house fire, family left without home FDLPD learned while responding to the incident that the suspect, a 31-year-old man from Chicago, reportedly was wanted by the US Marshals on a federal parole warrant for the 'possession of a machine gun and dangerous drugs.' A perimeter was set up around the house in order to make contact with the suspect and try to rescue those inside. A Bear Cat, K9 team, and the Technology Response Group joined Fond du Lac SWAT and Crisis Negotiations teams. Officers say that the man allegedly tried to leave the scene in an Uber in an attempt to escape. He was then taken into custody without further incident. Officers recovered a firearm from the scene. Wausau Police investigation results in seizure of 748 grams of meth, one man arrested Authorities confirmed that everyone in the home were all physically unharmed. The rapid and coordinated response by our FDLPD Officers and partner agencies ensured that this dangerous incident was resolved without further harm to the victim or children involved. I am proud of the work of our FDLPD Officers and grateful for our law enforcement partners who are always quickly by our side. Chief Aaron Goldstein, Fond du Lac Police Department Charges will be referred to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney's Office. The City of Fond du Lac Police Department was assisted by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, North Fond du Lac Police Department, and the City of Fond du Lac Fire Rescue. The incident remains under active investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
