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Monticello man gets four years in prison
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MONROE - A Monticello man who had his probation revoked in April was sentenced Tuesday to a four-year prison term for receiving stolen property and other crimes.

Jason R. Quintero, 42, is ordered to serve two years of initial confinement, less 291 days of credit for time served, followed by two years of extended supervision.

In June 2014, Judge Thomas Vale sentenced Quintero to one year in the Green County jail with work-release privileges after he pleaded no contest to a charge of fourth-offense operating while intoxicated.

For the other charges to which he pleaded no contest - receiving stolen property, domestic abuse-related disorderly conduct, possessing marijuana and bail jumping - Vale sentenced Quintero to two years of probation and community service.

"It was clear that Judge Vale intended to give Mr. Quintero "one last chance,'" Green County District Attorney Gary Luhman said in an email to The Monroe Times received Wednesday.

Court records indicate Quintero's probation was revoked April 17.

Quintero suffered chemical burns to his arms while on work release for his OWI sentence and was given a 30-day medical furlough while the burns healed, said Luhman. During that time, Luhman said, Quintero started to drink alcohol again and became abusive toward the female victim in the disorderly conduct case. He was ordered to have no contact with her as part of a $4,000 cash-and-signature bond he signed March 21, 2014, according to court records.

During the medical furlough, an official observed Quintero had been drinking, said Luhman. The court revoked Quintero's probation after the victim reported that he called and threatened her from the Green County jail, Luhman said.

The four-year sentence matched the punishment sought by Luhman, who told the court Quintero has a history of property crimes and alcohol-related offenses.

"The length and seriousness of his criminal record is an aggravating factor this court has to consider seriously," Luhman said. "He's in denial about his alcohol issues and his personality disorder that results in him continually victimizing people with property crimes."

Nancy Moore, Quintero's defense attorney, asked for a sentence of time served, meaning he'd face no additional time behind bars, and further drug and alcohol treatment. She said none of his past convictions were for violent offenses as defined in Wisconsin statutes.

"I don't think prison is the place for a non-violent offender," said Moore.

When Quintero, who appeared in handcuffs and an orange jumpsuit, had his chance to address the court, he said going to prison would prevent him from assisting his retired uncle, who recently had major surgery.

"In prison, I can't do anything for him," Quintero said. "He desperately needs me there to help."

But Vale was not swayed. He said a year ago he had decided not to send Quintero to prison, but serving time there fulfills a purpose.

"There's a reason the court orders incarceration," Vale said. "It's meant to deter future behavior. Prison isn't designed to be a pleasant place. I hope you don't like it."

The receiving stolen property charge, a felony, stemmed from a Dec. 4, 2012 incident in which Quintero knowingly concealed a stolen 14-carat gold diamond ring valued at $14,000 at a residence in Monticello.