DARLINGTON — A 37-year-old Darlington man arrested on 11 charges for an incident at the Pecatonica River Trails Campground had his bond conditions changed Monday.
William M. Breen pleaded not guilty Aug. 9 to fourth-offense operating while intoxicated, fourth-offense operating with prohibited alcohol concentration, attempted strangulation and suffocation — domestic abuse, battery or threat to a law enforcement officer, attempted battery or threat to a law enforcement officer, felony bail jumping, resisting or obstructing an officer, criminal damage to property, disorderly conduct — domestic abuse, and two counts of disorderly conduct.
Breen signed a $3,000 signature bond that was modified from the original cash bond so he could obtain work release, according to court documents. Breen is prohibited from residing with the victim or her children. Breen also will be required to not consume alcohol or controlled substances, stay out of businesses that sell alcohol, maintain absolute sobriety while driving with random testing if he makes bail, and not leave the state.
A scheduling conference is set for Dec. 19.
Several campers at the campground on Washington Street called 911 July 27 around 1:35 p.m. to report that a man was assaulting a woman in the campground, according to Darlington police.
According to the criminal complaint, two fishermen on the Pecatonica River on West River Street saw Breen lying down on the ground on the right side of a tent. One of the fishermen heard the woman Breen was with say something, then saw Breen get up and start to hit the woman in her ribs and back six or seven times.
Breen then got in his car and drove to the other side of the river to confront the fishermen, with Breen getting in the face of one of them, according to the criminal complaint.
When officers arrived, Breen climbed down the riverbank and went back to the campground where more officers were waiting and arrested him, according to the criminal complaint.
Breen was arrested for drunk driving after an officer noticed an odor of intoxicants from Breen and that his eyes were bloodshot and glossy and Breen was “talking quickly and mumbling his words.” Breen refused field sobriety testing, according to the criminal complaint.
Breen then struggled with officers and tried to run out of a Memorial Hospital of Lafayette County room, with three police officers and a Lafayette County deputy sheriff needed to subdue him. During the struggle Breen told a Darlington officer “I know where you [expletive deleted] live, you better watch out, buddy,” and “Bye bye, burn, burn,” according to the criminal complaint.
Breen Monday pleaded no contest to possessing a weapon in violation of a domestic abuse or child abuse restraining order and was sentenced to one year in jail with work release privileges.
Breen originally pleaded guilty to the weapon charge, which was for an incident in August 2020, in January 2021. A two-year deferred prosecution agreement was reached, but was rescinded and an arrest warrant was issued after Breen failed to appear for a court hearing Aug. 10, according to court records.
Another arrest warrant was issued after Breen failed to appear for a court hearing Feb. 15, according to court records. The warrant was canceled after Breen made a video appearance from a jail in Kentucky July 22, according to court records.
A status conference was held Monday on a felony bail jumping charge. Another status conference is scheduled for Dec. 19.
Breen was sentenced to six months in jail in 2018 after he pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery — domestic abuse, intimidating or dissuading a victim from reporting and disorderly conduct — domestic abuse, according to court records.