MONROE - A Green County judge denied an Illinois man's request Monday to reduce his $10,000 cash bond on charges related to a cellphone heist at the Monroe Radio Shack but urged the involved attorneys to speed up the case.
Trejamario Deshad Allen Cook, 25, Oswego, has been jailed since May on a Class F felony count of burglary, a Class G felony count of theft of moveable property worth more than $10,000, a Class I felony count of criminal damage to property and a Class A misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer.
"He's been in custody for a very long time, and his family would be unable to post more than $1,200," his attorney, Adam Witt, said.
Prosecutor Craig Nolen argued that Cook is at risk for flight, pointing out that he fled back to Illinois after the burglary and then fled to Arkansas, where he was eventually arrested.
Cook has a warrant in Illinois for retail theft and is under investigation for other thefts, Nolen said.
"I think he has lots of reasons not to make himself available to the court," he said.
Judge James Beer denied Witt's request to reduce Cook's bond to $1,200 cash and to allow the remaining balance of $8,800 to be a signature bond. But, he added, "We don't want to hold people in jail forever."
"I want to get this thing on the road," Beer said. A status conference on the case is set for Oct. 10.
The charges against Cook stem from a coordinated burglary of the Monroe Radio Shack, 301 6th Ave. West, in the early morning hours of Feb. 14.
Eight people in two vehicles pulled off the burglary, according to court records. Five of the eight were active participants in breaking into the Radio Shack.
Surveillance video shows five people in dark clothing and masks shattered the front door, broke into a locked storage room and loaded 80 cellphones into a duffle bag.
The heist was completed in 73 seconds.
Police responded to the area minutes later when a citizen reported seeing a burglary in progress. The drivers of a maroon 2016 Kia Optima and a gray 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, both with Illinois plates, drove off from the Radio Shack and led police on a chase down Wisconsin 11/81 at speeds topping 100 mph.
Police used "stop sticks" to apprehend the Kia in the Town of Spring Grove and the Jeep in Rock County. The passengers of the Kia, allegedly including Cook, fled on foot into nearby farm fields and eluded officers.
Police recovered 68 phones in the Kia that matched the description of the phones stolen from Radio Shack, as well as 12 others along the side of the highway. Police believe these were thrown from the Jeep.
Cook's co-defendants with pending cases related to the burglary include:
- Monte T. Brannon, 21, Aurora, Illinois, has a Green County warrant for his arrest.
- Campanella L. Ford III, 22, Oswego, has a Green County warrant for his arrest. He is in custody in Illinois on other charges, according to Nolen.
- Tynario Rashard Brown, 21, Aurora, posted a $3,500 cash bond and signed a $16,500 signature bond in June.
- Alexis M. Beyer, 19, Aurora, posted a $2,500 cash bond and signed a $12,500 signature bond in February.
- Michael Lavell Bush Jr., 25, Aurora, posted a $2,500 cash bond and signed a $17,500 signature bond in April.
Trejamario Deshad Allen Cook, 25, Oswego, has been jailed since May on a Class F felony count of burglary, a Class G felony count of theft of moveable property worth more than $10,000, a Class I felony count of criminal damage to property and a Class A misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer.
"He's been in custody for a very long time, and his family would be unable to post more than $1,200," his attorney, Adam Witt, said.
Prosecutor Craig Nolen argued that Cook is at risk for flight, pointing out that he fled back to Illinois after the burglary and then fled to Arkansas, where he was eventually arrested.
Cook has a warrant in Illinois for retail theft and is under investigation for other thefts, Nolen said.
"I think he has lots of reasons not to make himself available to the court," he said.
Judge James Beer denied Witt's request to reduce Cook's bond to $1,200 cash and to allow the remaining balance of $8,800 to be a signature bond. But, he added, "We don't want to hold people in jail forever."
"I want to get this thing on the road," Beer said. A status conference on the case is set for Oct. 10.
The charges against Cook stem from a coordinated burglary of the Monroe Radio Shack, 301 6th Ave. West, in the early morning hours of Feb. 14.
Eight people in two vehicles pulled off the burglary, according to court records. Five of the eight were active participants in breaking into the Radio Shack.
Surveillance video shows five people in dark clothing and masks shattered the front door, broke into a locked storage room and loaded 80 cellphones into a duffle bag.
The heist was completed in 73 seconds.
Police responded to the area minutes later when a citizen reported seeing a burglary in progress. The drivers of a maroon 2016 Kia Optima and a gray 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee, both with Illinois plates, drove off from the Radio Shack and led police on a chase down Wisconsin 11/81 at speeds topping 100 mph.
Police used "stop sticks" to apprehend the Kia in the Town of Spring Grove and the Jeep in Rock County. The passengers of the Kia, allegedly including Cook, fled on foot into nearby farm fields and eluded officers.
Police recovered 68 phones in the Kia that matched the description of the phones stolen from Radio Shack, as well as 12 others along the side of the highway. Police believe these were thrown from the Jeep.
Cook's co-defendants with pending cases related to the burglary include:
- Monte T. Brannon, 21, Aurora, Illinois, has a Green County warrant for his arrest.
- Campanella L. Ford III, 22, Oswego, has a Green County warrant for his arrest. He is in custody in Illinois on other charges, according to Nolen.
- Tynario Rashard Brown, 21, Aurora, posted a $3,500 cash bond and signed a $16,500 signature bond in June.
- Alexis M. Beyer, 19, Aurora, posted a $2,500 cash bond and signed a $12,500 signature bond in February.
- Michael Lavell Bush Jr., 25, Aurora, posted a $2,500 cash bond and signed a $17,500 signature bond in April.