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Hammer not out of jail, despite bond posted
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Derek Hammer

MONROE — Derek Hammer may have made bond in Green County this week, but he isn’t tasting freedom yet. A Feb. 15 story in the Monroe Times incorrectly stated he had been released.

Hammer, facing felony drug and gun charges in two states, will be transferred directly to the custody of the Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office, according to officials there. Hammer also may be a suspect the disappearance of Melissa Trumpy, the 37-year-old mother of three from Monticello.

Hammer is thought to be among the last people to see Trumpy alive, and her family strongly suspect he might have been involved. She has been missing for over a year.

“He will be brought down here and bond will be set,” said Lt. Brad Curtis, of the Stephenson County Sheriff’s office, adding that the department is still working on completing a transfer of Hammer from the Green County Jail.

Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud also said his department is ready to transfer Hammer.

“He is still here, he’s been here,” Skatrud said on Thursday. “My understanding is he is going to Stephenson, whenever they can work it.”

To bond out of Green County Jail, officials said, he posted $5,000 on top of the $10,000 posted earlier in the case.

Hammer faces a host of felony charges in Green County and elsewhere, including bail jumping, possession of cocaine with intent to deliver, possession of THC with intent to deliver, maintaining a drug trafficking place, and possession of a firearm as a felon. In Stephenson County, he’s primarily wanted on felony cannabis trafficking charges.

Hammer recently bonded out of Green County Jail after the cash amount was lowered by a Rock County Judge Ashley Morse who is now overseeing the case. Now he faces another bond hearing, which has yet to be set in Stephenson County. That should come as a relief to Trumpy’s family and friends who said they were afraid of Hammer.

But, said, Curtis: “If he bonds out here, he’ll be out.”

As conditions of his Wisconsin bond, Hammer must not leave Carroll or Stephenson Counties in Illinois. What’s more, Hammer is restricted from travel North of Highway 11 in Green County, and may only be present in Dane County to have contact with his attorney, according to court records.

A pre-trail conference is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on March 7.