Green County
Felonies
● Craig A. Wallace, 37, Monroe, entered a one-year deferred prosecution March 6 on a misdemeanor charge of resisting police by failing to stop, downgraded from a felony charge of fleeing or eluding an officer as a vehicle operator. The charge will be fully dismissed if he complies with the agreement. He also pleaded no contest to a non-criminal first-offense charge of operating while intoxicated and was fined. He owes the court $937. The cases stem from a traffic stop Aug. 12 in Monroe.
● Jessica D.A. Montano, 36, Argyle, pleaded guilty March 6 to a misdemeanor charge of possessing drug paraphernalia as a party to a crime, downgraded from a felony charge of possessing a counterfeit non-narcotic with intent to distribute. She was sentenced to a week in jail, with time served. She owes the court $443. The case stems from a drug sale June 21 in the 500 block of West 21st Street in Monroe. Court documents indicate Montano was in the driver’s seat when a confidential police source purchased 25.5 grams of purported cocaine for $600 from her passenger, James Marlon Foster Jr., 26, Freeport. The substance later “tested inconclusive for the probable presence of cocaine.”
Misdemeanors
● Cory James Valentino, 33, New Glarus, pleaded no contest March 6 to a misdemeanor charge of possessing marijuana and a non-criminal traffic violation of first-offense operating under the influence of a restricted controlled substance, downgraded from a misdemeanor charge of causing injury while operating under the influence. A misdemeanor charge of possessing drug paraphernalia was dismissed as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced to one year on probation, with conditions that he undergo alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) treatment and counseling. He owes the court $657. The case stems from a two-vehicle crash on Greenbush Road, Town of Sylvester, on June 8. Police reports indicate Valentino failed to negotiate a curve, crossed the centerline and sideswiped another vehicle, causing minor injuries to the driver, a 57-year-old Monroe man.
Lafayette County
Felonies
● Seth M. Behm, 33, Cambridge, was charged Feb. 19 with a Class H felony count of theft. Court records indicate he stole an automative diagnostic scanner worth $5,500 from a farm on Crist Lane, Town of Willow Springs, while employed there off and on in March 2018, and then traded the scanner for crack cocaine from his drug dealer. A warrant was issued for Behm’s arrest after he failed to show up to a March 4 initial appearance.
● Brandon Scott Ziegler, 33, Madison, pleaded no contest as part of a plea deal Feb. 27 to two Class A misdemeanor counts of sending obscene email, downgraded from felony charges of causing a child younger than 13 to view or listen to sexual activity and exposing a child to harmful material. He was sentenced to two years on probation. No jail time was ordered, but he has 25 days of sentence credit. He owes the court $352. The case stems from a June 2017 investigation. Court records indicate a Lafayette County deputy created the persona of a 12-year-old girl named “Elizabeth” and responded to a Craigslist ad posted by Ziegler. When Ziegler asked “Elizabeth” her age, she asked if it would be a dealbreaker if she were not of legal age. Ziegler responded that it sounded “like a set up” but continued communicating anyway. He sent the fake profile numerous pornographic photos of himself and sent messages describing sexual contact and sexual intercourse with the supposed 12-year-old girl, according to the investigation.