MADISON - A Green County judge Tuesday denied a former Argyle man's request to withdraw his guilty pleas to three homicides in connection with a 2012 house fire that took the lives of his three sons.
Circuit Judge Thomas Vale said there was no new evidence or facts to be explored in an evidentiary hearing requested by Armin Wand III's attorney, Patricia FitzGerald, said Catherine McGowan, Lafayette County clerk of court.
A call to FitzGerald for comment was not returned before deadline Tuesday.
The Wisconsin Attorney General's office, which prosecuted the case, also had no immediate comment Tuesday.
Vale sentenced Wand in April 2013 to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 40 years in prison. Two months prior, Wand pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, felony murder and arson.
The attempted homicide charge was obtained by plea agreement and involved the attempt on the life of Wand's then 2-year-old daughter and the death of an unborn fetus.
Sharon Wand, now, Sharon M. Peterson, had told authorities about her husband's involvement in the fire and after the sentencing she was pleased with the maximum punishments he received.
However, within months of sentencing she recanted in a letter sent to The Monroe Times. She said she lied about her husband's involvement and her lies were the product of her being high on pain medications and anger from the loss of her sons.
It remained unknown if FitzGerald included Sharon Wand's recantation among the grounds for Wand's plea withdrawal as attempts to get copies of the briefs filed in the case were unsuccessful.
During the fire, Sharon Wand had carried the toddler out of the burning house and handed her to Wand, who told her to move the couple's minivan. While she moved the vehicle, Wand tried to return the child to the house, Assistant Attorney General Ray Korte said at sentencing.
Sharon Wand was pregnant at the time and the state deemed Wand responsible for the termination of her pregnancy.
Sharon Wand suffered severe burns from the fire and was hospitalized.
Assistant Attorney General Ray Korte claimed that Wand set fire to the family's rented house in Argyle in order to kill his family, collect insurance and begin a new life.
Wand's brother, Jeremy Wand, 20, watched as the house burned and took the lives of his nephews Allen Wand, 7; Jeffery Wand, 5; and Joseph Wand, 3. Jeremy Wand was convicted of the same offenses as his brother and was sentenced to three life sentences with parole eligibility in September 2048.
Armin Wand's appeal was in legal limbo since he was sentenced in August 2013. The District IV Court of Appeals granted FitzGerald nine extensions to file a post-conviction motion or notice of appeal. On March 11 the appeals court gave Vale until Aug. 20 to rule on Wand's post-conviction motion.
Wand's case was initially assigned to Lafayette Circuit Judge William Johnston but was substituted for Vale on the request of Wand's attorneys.
Wand is currently serving his life sentences in Waupun Correctional Institution, according to online court records.
Circuit Judge Thomas Vale said there was no new evidence or facts to be explored in an evidentiary hearing requested by Armin Wand III's attorney, Patricia FitzGerald, said Catherine McGowan, Lafayette County clerk of court.
A call to FitzGerald for comment was not returned before deadline Tuesday.
The Wisconsin Attorney General's office, which prosecuted the case, also had no immediate comment Tuesday.
Vale sentenced Wand in April 2013 to three consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 40 years in prison. Two months prior, Wand pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, felony murder and arson.
The attempted homicide charge was obtained by plea agreement and involved the attempt on the life of Wand's then 2-year-old daughter and the death of an unborn fetus.
Sharon Wand, now, Sharon M. Peterson, had told authorities about her husband's involvement in the fire and after the sentencing she was pleased with the maximum punishments he received.
However, within months of sentencing she recanted in a letter sent to The Monroe Times. She said she lied about her husband's involvement and her lies were the product of her being high on pain medications and anger from the loss of her sons.
It remained unknown if FitzGerald included Sharon Wand's recantation among the grounds for Wand's plea withdrawal as attempts to get copies of the briefs filed in the case were unsuccessful.
During the fire, Sharon Wand had carried the toddler out of the burning house and handed her to Wand, who told her to move the couple's minivan. While she moved the vehicle, Wand tried to return the child to the house, Assistant Attorney General Ray Korte said at sentencing.
Sharon Wand was pregnant at the time and the state deemed Wand responsible for the termination of her pregnancy.
Sharon Wand suffered severe burns from the fire and was hospitalized.
Assistant Attorney General Ray Korte claimed that Wand set fire to the family's rented house in Argyle in order to kill his family, collect insurance and begin a new life.
Wand's brother, Jeremy Wand, 20, watched as the house burned and took the lives of his nephews Allen Wand, 7; Jeffery Wand, 5; and Joseph Wand, 3. Jeremy Wand was convicted of the same offenses as his brother and was sentenced to three life sentences with parole eligibility in September 2048.
Armin Wand's appeal was in legal limbo since he was sentenced in August 2013. The District IV Court of Appeals granted FitzGerald nine extensions to file a post-conviction motion or notice of appeal. On March 11 the appeals court gave Vale until Aug. 20 to rule on Wand's post-conviction motion.
Wand's case was initially assigned to Lafayette Circuit Judge William Johnston but was substituted for Vale on the request of Wand's attorneys.
Wand is currently serving his life sentences in Waupun Correctional Institution, according to online court records.