MADISON — A Brodhead man was among nine people granted pardons this week by Gov. Tony Evers for their criminal convictions.
Jason Ceslok, now 41, was 18 in December 1997 when he and friends stole a snowmobile from a dealership and took it joyriding, according to a release from the governor’s office. He was convicted the following year of felony theft and a misdemeanor charge of operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent, as the passenger.
Green County Judge James Beer, then one year into his first term, put Ceslok on two years of probation, which he later revoked, sentencing Ceslok to jail time. Ceslok was also ordered to complete 120 hours of community service.
Beer, the county’s longest serving circuit court judge, is retiring next year.
Ceslok is now married with a daughter and has worked for Minhas Craft Brewery since 2005. He still lives in Brodhead. State court records show no other criminal convictions for him.
“Pardons are more than just a signature on paper, they offer new opportunities, second chances and forgiveness for folks who have bettered their communities and made amends,” Evers said in a statement Aug. 12.
“I believe in second chances and in the positive impact pardons can have on our criminal justice system and communities.”
The Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board heard from applicants virtually on July 21, and the applicants recommended by the Board for pardon were forwarded to Evers for final consideration.
The Wisconsin Constitution grants the governor the power to pardon individuals convicted of a crime. A pardon is an official act of forgiveness that restores some of the rights that are lost when someone is convicted of a felony, including the right to serve on a jury, hold public office and hold certain professional licenses. A pardon does not result in an expungement.
Under an executive order issued by the governor, anyone convicted of a Wisconsin felony may apply for a pardon if they completed their sentence at least five years ago and have not committed any new crimes.
— Kat Cisar