DARLINGTON — A Darlington man was sentenced on July 18 in Lafayette County Circuit Court to 10 months in the county jail for violating probation just two months after it was implemented. 

Andrew James Turpin, 22, had his probation revoked after following a pattern of behavior in which he wrote out worthless checks for items he won at auctions. He was originally sentenced to three years on probation in February after being convicted for forging checks and conspiring with a Shullsburg man to steal a John Deere lawnmower and snowmobile trailer to sell for profit.

Lafayette County District Attorney Jenna Gill said she has never seen anyone be placed on probation only to have it revoked so quickly.

“That, to me, shows that the defendant didn’t take the sentence seriously,” Gill said.

Turpin’s attorney Guy Taylor said his client may be suffering from a mental illness. He felt Turpin could have interpreted writing checks as creating money. 

Taylor was unsure what else could explain Turpin purchasing a giant yellow inflatable duck with bad checks while on probation.

In April, Turpin made purchases at auctions organized by Powers Auction Service and at sales at Blain’s Farm and Fleet in Monroe. 

Turpin won several lots, including fuel tanks, at a Powers Auction Service auction in Browntown and paid the invoice of just over $9,000 with a check that couldn’t be cashed, according to the criminal complaint.

On the same day in Dubuque, at another Powers Auction Service event, Turpin reportedly won more bids. He paid for items totaling nearly $7,000 with another worthless check. The Department of Corrections recommended an eight-month jail sentence in light of the probation violation. The state did not agree. Gill originally recommended a 12-month jail sentence, with Huber privileges, due to the large amount of money involved in the case. She said she felt the DOC recommendation depreciated the seriousness of the offense and did not protect the interest of the public. She said it also did not allow for considerable rehabilitation.

“I’m not sure what is next for Mr. Turpin with his outstanding cases,” Gill said. “They haven’t been resolved but hopefully they will find some way to deter the behavior.”

Taylor said he felt that due to Turpin’s age and his lack of prior offenses, eight months was a sufficient jail sentence. He added that there was no violence against others or property and there was no sign of drug addiction.

“He is a polite young man, but a naïve young man,” Taylor said. “There are very few explanations for such idiotic behavior. But all things considered, this is a comedy of errors in many respects. This is a totally irrational series of events that could be explained by bipolar effectiveness disorder.” 

When allowed to speak in court, Turpin admitted he too feels he has a problem and wishes to address it. He said he realized he has “screwed up a lot” and “wants to make things right.”

Looking at the whole gambit of criminal activity, Lafayette County Court Judge Duane Jorgenson found there were not only local cases, but incidents in Green County and Iowa that are also currently being considered. Turpin has pending Green County charges of issuing worthless checks and bail jumping, as well as causing harm while operating a vehicle with a suspended license, which stems from an accident on Wisconsin 69 in Clarno in early February.

Jorgenson said he understood Turpin was a young man and that incarceration can have a negative effect on some criminals. He said he did not know if Turpin suffered from a mental illness but expressed that the offender was “racking up victims” with each case.

“What I am seeing here is a lack of awareness that what you are doing is wrong and you can’t keep doing it,” Jorgenson said.

Jorgenson agreed with portions of the recommendation by the DOC but concluded with a total of 10 months in jail.

“I do this because these are property crimes,” Jorgenson said. “I don’t know if you have a mental illness but the court is punishing you with what we have. I sincerely hope that whatever is driving this train stops.”

Turpin was credited with 83 days in jail. He has a sentencing hearing set for Aug. 22 in Green County Circuit Court.