MONROE - A former Montello man was sentenced to six years in prison Wednesday on charges of contributing to a 17-year-old's death by smuggling drugs into jail.
Danny Douglas Mitchell II, 46, Janesville, received a sentence of six years in prison to be followed by six years of extended supervision on a Class D felony charge of intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a minor leading to the minor's death and a Class I felony count of delivering illegal contraband to an inmate.
Mitchell was charged in 2015, more than two years after the death of Kyle Peotter, a Freeport resident who was 17 years old when he was sent to the Green County Jail on a probation violation.
On Jan. 28, 2013, Mitchell reported to the Green County Jail on a probation hold. Mitchell was able to smuggle methadone, a controlled narcotic, as well as chewing tobacco into the jail because he was not subjected to a strip search.
Peotter was found dead in his cell on Jan. 30, 2013. Surveillance footage indicated that Mitchell had given Peotter an item before his death, and then, after he discovered Peotter's unresponsive body, had taken the item and flushed it down a toilet before jailers could respond.
An autopsy confirmed that Peotter had died from a methadone overdose.
Peotter's stepfather, Mike DeGraff, appeared in court Wednesday to address Mitchell. After commanding Mitchell to look him in the eyes, he called Mitchell a "parasite" and a coward who did not deserve to ever leave prison.
"You were the last line of defense," DeGraff said. "Why didn't you take accountability?"
DeGraff said that Mitchell, who has an extensive criminal record, including a sexual assault case in 2009, had repeatedly failed to learn from his mistakes, concluding that his "stench lingers."
"I would like to treat you like a man, even though I do not believe you are one," DeGraff said.
"I hope you never have the chance to step outside again, and if you do, God help society, brother," DeGraff said.
Mitchell, too, addressed the court, simply saying "I'm sorry I brought stuff into jail," before adding that he did not think he had given Peotter enough drugs to overdose and that he would have to live with his mistake for the rest of his life.
Green County District Attorney Craig Nolen and Mitchell's attorney, John Smerlinski, issued a joint sentencing recommendation of five years in prison to be followed by seven years of extended supervision and an additional three years of probation.
However, Green County Circuit Judge Thomas Vale ordered a slightly altered sentence with six-year-long prison and supervision terms and without probation.
Vale said that, although Mitchell's adult life "has not been something to brag about," he hoped that Mitchell's relationship with his children would motivate him to turn his life around in prison.
"You destroyed one family's relationship with their child," Vale said. "Now you will only be able to see your family through prison bars."
Danny Douglas Mitchell II, 46, Janesville, received a sentence of six years in prison to be followed by six years of extended supervision on a Class D felony charge of intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a minor leading to the minor's death and a Class I felony count of delivering illegal contraband to an inmate.
Mitchell was charged in 2015, more than two years after the death of Kyle Peotter, a Freeport resident who was 17 years old when he was sent to the Green County Jail on a probation violation.
On Jan. 28, 2013, Mitchell reported to the Green County Jail on a probation hold. Mitchell was able to smuggle methadone, a controlled narcotic, as well as chewing tobacco into the jail because he was not subjected to a strip search.
Peotter was found dead in his cell on Jan. 30, 2013. Surveillance footage indicated that Mitchell had given Peotter an item before his death, and then, after he discovered Peotter's unresponsive body, had taken the item and flushed it down a toilet before jailers could respond.
An autopsy confirmed that Peotter had died from a methadone overdose.
Peotter's stepfather, Mike DeGraff, appeared in court Wednesday to address Mitchell. After commanding Mitchell to look him in the eyes, he called Mitchell a "parasite" and a coward who did not deserve to ever leave prison.
"You were the last line of defense," DeGraff said. "Why didn't you take accountability?"
DeGraff said that Mitchell, who has an extensive criminal record, including a sexual assault case in 2009, had repeatedly failed to learn from his mistakes, concluding that his "stench lingers."
"I would like to treat you like a man, even though I do not believe you are one," DeGraff said.
"I hope you never have the chance to step outside again, and if you do, God help society, brother," DeGraff said.
Mitchell, too, addressed the court, simply saying "I'm sorry I brought stuff into jail," before adding that he did not think he had given Peotter enough drugs to overdose and that he would have to live with his mistake for the rest of his life.
Green County District Attorney Craig Nolen and Mitchell's attorney, John Smerlinski, issued a joint sentencing recommendation of five years in prison to be followed by seven years of extended supervision and an additional three years of probation.
However, Green County Circuit Judge Thomas Vale ordered a slightly altered sentence with six-year-long prison and supervision terms and without probation.
Vale said that, although Mitchell's adult life "has not been something to brag about," he hoped that Mitchell's relationship with his children would motivate him to turn his life around in prison.
"You destroyed one family's relationship with their child," Vale said. "Now you will only be able to see your family through prison bars."