WAUPUN – A Waupun man has been convicted of first-degree reckless homicide related to an overdose death from 2023 according to Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney and a sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 13 Judge Douglas Edelstein revoked bond and ordered a pre-sentence investigation report Read more: Three-car crash in Dodge County Sunday injures 4, 2 seriously the victim was found dead in their bedroom May 17 with the cause of death determined as "fentanyl toxicity." The autopsy report listed a blood alcohol concentration of 0.028 g/100mL and fentanyl of 20 ng/mL Investigators learned Mayne provided drugs the night before based on messages and other data in the victim's phone A witness who was also connected with the victim and Mayne had been taken to a Madison hospital the same day because of a suspected overdose The Waupun Police Department investigated the case and Toney and Assistant District Attorney Alexander Angle prosecuted Contact Daphne Lemke at dlemke@gannett.com Follow along as State Journal cartoonist Phil Hands draws Donald Trump at Wisconsin's Waupon prison Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account The Waupun Correctional Institution is seen June 5 Evans was sentenced in 2019 to seven years in prison for armed robbery and an additional two years to be served concurrently for bail jumping Evans is the seventh Waupun inmate to have died in custody since June 2023 His body went undiscovered for at least 12 hours Maier died of dehydration and malnutrition He had severe mental health problems but either refused or wasn’t given his medication in the eight days leading up to his February 2024 death who died of a fentanyl overdose in October 2023 The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release that it appeared the death was likely self-inflicted Online court records indicate McDonald was sentenced to 999 years in a homicide case Asked in follow-up emails Wednesday for an update in both Adkins and McDonald Schmidt said he would not be making any public statements regarding prison investigations unless he decides a news release is warranted Waupun inmates have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging mistreatment and a lack of health care This story has been updated to correct that Evans is the seventh inmate to die at Waupun Correctional Institution since June 2023 and to correct that one inmate killed himself FOND DU LAC COUNTY (NBC 26) — A jury convicted Dylan B Mayne of first-degree reckless homicide on Friday “Too many families continue to suffer from the devastating effects of fentanyl and opioids as we see fentanyl destroying families and communities," stated Toney "We will continue working with our federal and local law enforcement partners to aggressively prosecute those that distribute poison into our communities.” Mayne's sentencing is scheduled for June 13 individuals battling opioid addiction have faced a grim choice: get clean or die But some people now see a third option — harm reduction A 27-year-old Waupun man was found guilty of first-degree reckless homicide on Friday following a five-day jury trial Dylan Mayne will be sentenced in Fond du Lac on June 13 He could face up to 25 years in prison and 15 years of extended supervision Judge Douglas Edelstein revoked bond and ordered a pre-sentence investigation report on Friday after the jury came back with the decision Responding officers found 26-year-old Shawn Kimpel dead in the house with evidence of recent drug use A second individual was taken by a medical helicopter to a Madison Hospital and survived An autopsy was conducted at the Fond du Lac Medical Examiner’s Office The medical examiner’s report said Kimpel likely died from a fentanyl overdose as we see fentanyl destroying families and communities,” Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney said in a statement “We will continue working with our federal and local law enforcement partners to aggressively prosecute those that distribute poison into our communities but it might save someone else or spur another to seek treatment.” The officer on the scene was aware of past police contact with Kimpel and that he had a drug history involving heroin and fentanyl The officer found phones and drug paraphernalia at the scene Kimpel’s roommate told authorities that Mayne and another person had visited Kimpel Another person told police that the last time she spoke to Kimpel on Facetime on May 16 Another person who had been hanging out with Mayne and Kimpel had been transported by a medical helicopter after a suspected overdose that same day Authorities found text messages on Kimpel’s phone that were allegedly sent from Mayne Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or call 920-356-6760 Email notifications are only sent once a day But some people now see a third option — harm red… JUNEAU — Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Martin De Vries said the criminal charge against former Waupun Correctional Institution Warden Randall Hepp was "to some extent .. While the former warden was not directly involved in the staff's failure to provide basic necessities to 62-year-old Donald Maier before he died of probable dehydration and malnutrition in February 2024 Hepp was responsible for ensuring staff members followed the institution's policies Hepp, 63, was initially charged with felony misconduct in public office in connection with Maier's death, but he pleaded no contest April 28 to a reduced charge of violating the law of a state or county institution Waupun Correctional Institution staff failed to follow policies and procedures related to missed meals The lack of training and breakdown in communication led to Maier's death, which the Dodge County medical examiner ruled a homicide De Vries agreed with both Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will and defense attorney Michael Steinle that Hepp did not have knowledge of Maier's deteriorating situation prior to his death "If he knew what was going on there and he did nothing about it It would come through," De Vries said at Hepp's plea and sentencing hearing "So the issue is what the warden had been doing to make sure this kind of thing didn't happen." De Vries sentenced the former warden to a $500 fine The judge said he did not believe imposing any jail time would serve to protect the public Will read a victim impact statement written by Maier's mother in which she said she wishes all the defendants accused of having a role in her son's death would spend some time in jail “so that they learn firsthand what it is like to be dependent on guards for food Maier's mother thanked authorities for pursuing charges but said she was disappointed that "a slap on the wrist and the embarrassment of being caught and arrested appear to be the sentence that they are willing to settle for." Waupun staff found Maier dead in his cell in the prison's restrictive housing unit An investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office found that in the days before Maier's death prison staff intermittently shut off water to Maier's cell to prevent him from flooding it but did not properly document when the water was turned on or off They also did not document missed meals — and there was evidence Maier had not eaten since five days before he died — or provide Maier with his medications Hepp told investigators that an apathetic attitude of "just get by" by staff in the restrictive housing unit "is the inevitable outcome of a long-term staffing deficit in this type of environment." He also said some policies were sent to staff by email Will said Maier's death was "so alarming" because at the time prison staff were already aware there was a sheriff's investigation into Williams' death the prior fall — and the two deaths had some similarities Williams died of a rare stroke Oct. 30, 2023 after prison staff noted he was ill and behaving strangely but did not enter his cell to check on him and provide medical attention according to the criminal complaint in that case numerous staff on the restrictive housing unit noted Maier's health was deteriorating Investigators reviewed body camera footage in which staff said Maier "looks like he's shrinking," Will said nobody took that additional action to open the cell door and on the restrictive housing unit there was just this complete breakdown of following the policies and procedures of this institution," Will said Will said bringing charges against Hepp was an "extremely difficult decision," because he was highly respected in the Wisconsin Department of Corrections According to Hepp's defense sentencing memorandum he worked for the DOC for 40 years with no violations or disciplinary actions taken against him said Hepp climbed the DOC's rank because he's a "problem solver," and ultimately became Waupun's warden with the goal of helping fix long-standing problems at the over-170-year-old facility "I think until a new institution is actually built we’re always going to have the problems at Waupun." including spending $245 million to rebuild the living quarters of Waupun Correctional Institution and transforming the facility into a "vocational village" that would expand job training for prisoners Steinle said Waupun's restrictive housing unit in particular has historically faced problems because many of the senior employees at Waupun Correctional have chosen to not work shifts in that part of the prison leaving it run by more inexperienced staff Steinle said Hepp made efforts to correct this but ultimately the staffing issues faced by Waupun meant many inexperienced guards and staff filling in from other institutions were working the challenging role Steinle said he understands why Hepp is facing repercussions for the Waupun staff's failure to follow procedures the program director and the security director Hepp declined to make a statement at his sentencing RELATED: Charge related to prisoner death dismissed for Waupun correctional sergeant RELATED: Prison workers told Wisconsin lawmakers a staff shortage could lead to a deadly outcome. Then it did Hepp's conviction marks the third of 10 criminal cases tied to the Waupun deaths to reach conclusion In September 2024, former correctional officer Sarah Ransbottom, like Hepp, had the felony charge against her reduced to a misdemeanor charge of violating the law of a state or county institution She pleaded no contest and was ordered to pay a fine of $250 Ransbottom was accused of not completing two cell check rounds on the restrictive housing unit where Maier was housed despite her initials marking them off on a log At Ransbottom's plea and sentencing hearing De Vries said Ransbottom's actions "did not contribute to anybody's death," and that had her signature not been on a log that was part of the investigation into Maier's death the offense would likely have been handled internally Chalker was accused of initialing that he completed two cell check rounds on the restrictive housing unit According to the motion for the charge's dismissal Chalker told investigators he was instructed by his superior officer to fill out the rounds sheets was merely "following chain of command," and investigators found this to be likely credible numerous telephone scheduling conferences have taken place over the past nearly 11 months Will told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that Dodge County schedules telephone scheduling conferences the same way many counties schedule in-person "further proceedings." She said a large amount of discovery existed for defense attorneys to go through but the cases have now reached the process of negotiations "Because there's so many different co-defendants The remaining staff facing charges have the following upcoming court appearances: Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @ArseneauKelli The former Waupun warden's reduced conviction to a low-level misdemeanor in connection with a prisoner's death has elicited some mixed reactions Hepp was initially charged with felony misconduct in public office which carries a maximum sentence of 1½ years in prison and two years of extended supervision who died of a rare stroke after staff failed to provide him medical attention "(The) coalition welcomes the news of former warden Hepp's conviction," said Rev Darren Utley in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Utley is a prison reform advocate that helped organize a coalition of activists who have protested and demanded action at the Department of Corrections in recent years "We don’t see this as something significant for prison rights because the court and confinement system in (Wisconsin) has shown itself to be willing to downplay the injustices of the police and corrections officers while it seeks maximum punishment for the poor and working people of the state," he added Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Martin De Vries said Hepp was not directly involved in the staff's failure to provide basic necessities to Maier Hepp was responsible for ensuring staff members followed policies De Vries said he did not believe imposing any jail time to Hepp would protect the public who investigated Maier's death and referred charges said he is in agreement with the district attorney's decision to settle the case as a misdemeanor conviction "I can understand why some may feel additional sanctions are warranted but our court system must be blind to 'feelings' and 'agendas' and decisions made solely on the facts of the case," Schmidt wrote in an April 29 statement An investigation by the sheriff's office found in the days before Maier's death prison staff intermittently shut off water to his cell to prevent him from flooding it "If (Hepp) knew what was going on there and he did nothing about it It would come through," De Vries said at the hearing Maier's family filed a federal civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit, claiming DOC staff were "deliberately indifferent" to Maier's serious medical and mental health needs violating his right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment His mother declined comment to the Journal Sentinel and deferred a reporter to her attorney "Wisconsin has to stop treating its prison system as a bottomless pit into which we can cast people we don't want among us without ever giving a thought for them after that," attorney Jeff Scott Olson "We hope that there is a point beyond which the powers that be can no longer turn a blind eye to the wretched conditions in our prisons and we hope that point has been passed with this case." Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will did read a victim impact statement from Maier's mother at Hepp's hearing She said she wishes all the defendants accused of having a role in her son's death would spend some time in jail Schmidt says the governor needs to take accountabilitySchmidt said Hepp was placed in a difficult position by Gov Tony Evers and the former Department of Corrections administration he was the warden and was by law administratively responsible for Waupun Correctional Institution no Wisconsin or federal law directly tied back to his bosses who failed to provide adequate resources or leadership." "Keep in mind that there are many pieces to this puzzle that have not yet made their way through the criminal justice system as there are still outstanding cases being processed through the courts," Schmidt said "There most certainly is accountability taking place and being sought for the two deaths for which the sheriff’s office made arrests." Williams' mother says the process has caused 'significant distress'Williams died of a rare stroke Oct. 30, 2023 Hepp was not charged in connection to the death but three other staffers have been charged and have hearings in the next couple months said she believes Hepp should have been charged in connection to her son's case especially since the district attorney said the two deaths "I believe it is imperative that he is held accountable for the circumstances surrounding my child's death," Anderson said in a statement he was responsible for the management of the facility and should not be allowed to distance himself from the situation." "Given the importance of accountability in this matter I respectfully urge that the warden be charged in conjunction with the other personnel involved," Anderson added "This situation has caused me significant distress and I hope for a resolution that acknowledges the seriousness of the responsibilities held by all parties." Anderson also filed a civil lawsuit, claiming Williams' constitutional rights protecting against cruel and unusual process were violated said regardless of the outcomes of the criminal cases related to Maier's and Williams' deaths the state's prisons need to remain under a microscope until we the people of (Wisconsin) demand a dramatic reduction in our prison population through alternatives clemency and the efforts neighboring states have already enacted we will continue to see torturous conditions in our state prisons and county jails," he said Although many injustices have come to light in recent years at Wisconsin's prisons Utley said many more incidents are hidden in darkness "We organized protests and vigils around these charges when they were brought because we heard of the same abuses and neglect from those inside the majority of the states prisons," he said (Waupun) The mayor of Waupun highlights the reasons he wants to see Waupun Correctional Institution remain open The facility has come under scrutiny in recent months following the deaths of multiple in inmates and reports of poor conditions came to light Closing the prison has been floated as an idea The governor has suggested turning the facility into a vocational village to provide those incarcerated with job training and education in skilled trades.   Mayor Rohn Bishop has been a vocal supporter of keeping the prison open and in Waupun “Take all of the Department of Corrections together that are in Waupun and it’s the largest employer that we have,” says Bishop “There are three prisons plus the prison pharmacy…the prison farm…and we are not that far from Fox Lake Correctional or Taycheedah or Oshkosh for that matter.”  Bishop says the prisons have a historical connection with the city.  “I remember saying this to state legislators…I’m like ‘you guys look at it as there’s Waupun and that’s where the prison is’…to those of us who live in Waupun it’s a part of our community,” says Bishop “Waupun Correctional Institutional is right downtown…it’s on Madison Street The Waupun Public Library is across the street on one side and the daycare my kids went to is one block behind it on the west side it’s just a part of Waupun and a part of who we are.”   Waupun Correctional is the oldest prison in the state of Wisconsin.  Want to have your photos featured in our new website design Send us your local photos for consideration GOOD KARMA BROADCASTING100 Bill McCollum Way Upload your local photos here for consideration WAUPUN (NBC 26) — A 44-year-old inmate at Waupun Correctional Institution jumped from one of the tiers in the cell hall around 11 a.m according to a spokesperson with the Department of Corrections Authorities say staff members immediately helped the man and he was taken to Waupun Memorial Hospital by ambulance He was then flown to another medical facility As the Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) is a health care provider federal privacy rules prevent releasing more information on the man’s condition Please stay with NBC 26 as this story develops The family of Donald Maier, who died due to probable malnutrition and dehydration at Waupun Correctional Institution last year has filed a federal civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit against Wisconsin Department of Corrections leadership and prison staff Maier, 62, died on Feb. 22, 2024, one week after prison staff began intermittently shutting off the water to prevent him from flooding his cell. His death was ruled a homicide The lawsuit filed on April 28 alleges that DOC staff were "deliberately indifferent" to Maier's serious medical and mental health needs violating his right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment when he was left in "inhumane conditions of confinement." and without food and water" while in solitary confinement The complaint also alleges disability discrimination because Maier who had a documented history of mental health conditions was denied access to basic services and programs former Waupun Correctional Institution warden Randall Hepp medical and mental health care staff at the prison are named as defendants in the lawsuit DOC could not immediately be reached for comment Maier was one of six people who died at Waupun Maier entered Wisconsin's state prison system in June 2012 where he cycled between a mental health treatment facility and a medium-security prison in Racine Maier was serving a 15-year prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of stalking the members of a jury from a previous court case Maier was diagnosed with suffering from delusional disorder Maier was transferred to Waupun Correctional Institution where he was housed in the prison's behavioral health unit designed to hold prisoners with mental illnesses Maier was found lying on the floor of his cell unresponsive While being transported by staff to the health care unit kicking out at the staff," the complaint alleged Kelsey Stone used a Taser on Maier and then placed him the restrictive housing unit "disregarding Maier’s medical and psychiatric needs," the lawsuit alleged Maier could be heard "growling" and "roaring like an animal," according to the complaint Maier was not treated by medical or mental health staff over the next two weeks correctional officer Michael Lueneburg requested that water be shut off to Maier’s cell DOC requires authorization from a lieutenant to carry out water shut-offs Staff must notify a nurse or the health care unit if a prisoner's water has been shut off for more than two hours Staff must also log when they offer water to the prisoner staff turned the water on and off at several points but never followed protocol nor notified Maier when the water was on Melissa Tempski for water during her rounds monitoring the solitary unit but Tempski moved on without providing him water Maier later told a doctor that he wanted “water all the water in the world.” The doctor did not respond to his request instead passing his request on to correctional staff Correctional staff staff also noticed Maier drinking from the toilet Maier's pleas for water continued in the days following correctional officer Jamal Russell did not deliver a meal tray to Mr Maier’s cell during breakfast or for lunch Russell did not follow the prison's hunger strike protocol which would require him to notify medical care unit Russell shared his concerns about Maier not eating and drinking water from the toilet to a nurse Hosfelt later returned with DOC physician Dr But staff soon left when Maier did not respond after they tried to get his attention Hosfelt returned to carry out a wellness check after staff believed Maier had experienced a seizure Maier was found lying on the floor of his cell nor did they request a medical or psych evaluation staff again observed Maier lying naked on his cell floor Jaime Engstrom visited Maier for an out-of-cell evaluation but was advised that Maier refused the meeting While noting his concerns about Maier being frail Despite staff raising concerns about Maier's condition that day Aaron Arzenhofer told employees to "keep an eye on it" and file an incident report if the situation did not improve staff again reported Maier lying unresponsive on the floor The medical examiner later reported the "sight and stench of food and garbage strewn about the cell," including food trays Both medical and correctional staff had falsified records attesting that they had made the required rounds in the days leading up to Maier's death including during the morning and afternoon of Feb The lawsuit also underscores that the Department of Corrections suffers from "systemic deficiencies" that directly impacted the lack of care and access to services that Maier received When previously asked about whether limited staffing has impacted the department's ability to assess security threats DOC spokesperson Beth Hardtke said that staffing and vacancy rates "do not and will not impact institution security." and Waupun Security Director Yana Pusich were "deliberately indifferent" to dangerous conditions that led to Maier’s death Despite knowing about severe understaffing as well as the failure to follow the prison's water shut-off and hunger strike protocols putting prisoners who have severe mental health conditions like Maier at serious risk Kelli Arseneau of the Appleton Post-Crescent contributed to this article Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on X @Vanessa_Swales Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More a 62-year-old inmate that died at the Waupun Correctional Institution filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit on Monday against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and the prison’s employees and contractors.  2024 from probable malnutrition and dehydration after he was locked up in solitary confinement a violation of protocol that ensures prisoners have adequate drinking water It also says guards did not follow protocol to get Maier help for his mental health disorder The family is now asking for damages and attorney fees as well as a trial by jury the family claims prison staff had “deliberate indifference.” It also says staff were negligent in “ignoring [Maier’s] rapidly and obviously deteriorating physical and mental health while he was in their care.” It specifically points to Waupun Correctional Institution Warden Randall Hepp Hepp was charged in June 2024 with felony misconduct in connection with Maier’s death and another inmate’s Cameron Williams — a count punishable by up to three-and-a-half years in prison and $10,000 in fines a judge on Monday ordered Hepp to pay a $500 fine to resolve the case called Hepp’s sentence a “slap on the wrist” and said her son had been treated worse than a caged animal It came after Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will reduced the charge Monday to a misdemeanor count of violating laws governing a state or county institution in exchange for Hepp’s no contest plea Will told Judge Martin Devries she reduced the charge because Hepp was well respected within the state Department of Corrections and didn’t know guards weren’t following policy it claims Hepp was “well aware” of “the understaffing and the lack of adequate training,” which created a “substantial risk.” It also described him as “deliberately indifferent to that risk.” It also says Hepp was aware of lapsing in protocol enforcement but that “he did not take action to attempt to ensure protocols were adhered to.” One other defendant also agreed to plead guilty to a lesser charge on Monday and prosecutors dropped the charges against another one died of a fentanyl overdose and one died of what investigators suspect was suicide The Associated Press contributed to this story by Scott Hurley WAUPUN (WLUK) -- A Waupun Correctional Institution inmate was airlifted to the hospital Tuesday The Wisconsin Department of Corrections says the 44-year-old man jumped from one of the tiers in the cell hall around 11 a.m Prison staff members immediately gave the man first aid He was taken by ambulance to a local hospital and from there flown to another medical facility The DOC did not release information on the man's condition On this episode of WisconsinEye's Rewind: Your Week in Review CBS 58's Emilee Fannon and WisPolitics.com's JR Ross discuss how the state Supreme Court has upheld Gov Tony Evers broad partial veto that expanded school funding increases for the next 400 years A 42-year-old Waupun woman has been charged with reckless endangerment following her three dogs attacking a 6-year-old neighbor boy on April 4 Andrea Mae Oppermann Howard faces felony charges of second-degree reckless injury and injury by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon If convicted of the reckless injury charge she could face up to 7.5 years in prison and 5 years of extended supervision Oppermann is being charged in Fond du Lac County Circuit Court and her initial appearance is on Tuesday “Due to Andrea’s knowledge of her dog’s previous behavior Andrea held a subjective awareness that the risk of death or great bodily harm was present while children or other person(s) were present and her dogs left unsecured roaming a non-enclosed yard created a substantial risk,” according to the criminal complaint The three dogs that attacked the boy earlier this month have been euthanized The dogs were updated in the criminal complaint as pit bull mixed dogs He was treated at Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee after being flown there by a medical helicopter on April 4 following the dogs attacking in his backyard in the 200 block of Fond du Lac Street while playing with a friend He was released back home early the following week Waupun Police responded to the boy’s home around 6:15 p.m on April 4 for the report of multiple dogs attacking the boy an officer arrived at the scene and ran between the residences on Fond du Lac Street to where the dogs had dragged the boy Jace was lying in the backyard screaming with his mother Jace had a large cut on the top of his head and wounds on his right arm One neighbor told the officer that he attempted to kick the dogs to get them off the boy but they did not react until the dog’s owner called them Another neighbor tried to scream at the dogs but they did not react to her screams either Police learned from Alexa that Jace was on a trampoline in the backyard with a friend she went outside and saw the dogs dragging her son across the yard Alexa said she put herself between the dog and her son Casey was also bitten by the dogs when he tried to free his son from the dogs’ grasp The father was treated and released after being sent to Waupun Memorial Hospital Waupun Police had four previous contacts with the dogs with two incidences ending with municipal citations for animals running at large A Waupun officer did contact Oppermann Howard on her back patio According to the complaint: She was crying and parts of her clothes were soaked in blood They were not on leashes but were with her in her yard while she had been picking up messes left in the yard She said that the two children came into her yard to play with the dogs and she did not pay attention until she heard the screaming She said she pulled the dog from the victim and took them inside The father of the girl who Jace was playing with said there was no fence between the two homes and the two children were playing on the trampoline in the boy’s yard The ball the two children were playing with rolled near Oppermann Howard Oppermann Howard was holding onto the boy and attempting to protect him from the dogs At some point after the boy’s parents went to help him Oppermann Howard was able to get the dogs back into her house The dogs were taken by Oppermann Howard to the Fond du Lac County Humane Society Two of the dogs were current with their vaccinations but one dog’s vaccinations expired in November The dogs were transferred to staff custody without incident and Oppermann Howard was notified that the dogs would be humanely euthanized if she did not pay the quarantine fee by April 14 CBS 58's Emilee Fannon and WisPolitics.com's JR Ross discuss how the state Supr… was charged with misconduct in public office Dodge County district attorney Andrea Will moved to dismiss the charges The Dodge County Sheriff's Office began investigating the prison after four inmates died in an eight-month period The charges were related to the final two deaths: an inmate who died of a stroke and another who died of dehydration and malnourishment Online court records show a plea and sentencing hearing was scheduled for April 28 Nine employees at Wisconsin’s Waupun prison have been fired following the launch of a federal investigation into contraband smuggling.  In March Wisconsin’s governor announced the Federal Bureau of Investigation had launched a probe into allegations that Waupun employees had been smuggling drugs and cell phones into the maximum security facility.    Wisconsin’s Department of Corrections confirmed 11 Waupan employees had been placed on leave between May 2023 and March 2024 nine of those employees have been fired and two have resigned according to the state Department of Corrections A DOC spokesperson declined to release the names of most of those employees In December, former Waupun maintenance worker William Homan was sentenced to nine months of house arrest and three years probation after pleading guilty to a federal conspiracy to commit bribery charge former inmates and their associates in exchange for smuggling items like tobacco Separately, Dodge County prosecutors charged a total of nine other people who worked for Waupun with state-level felonies in June after investigators concluded their neglect contributed to the deaths of two incarcerated men One of those men died of dehydration and malnutrition after prosecutors say staff cut off water to his cell The other died of a stroke after authorities say Waupun workers failed to complete required checks and ignored his signs of medical distress One of the workers charged by Dodge County prosecutors, Sarah Ransbottom, has since pleaded no contest to a reduced misdeamnor charge of violating the rules or laws of a penal institution. She was previously charged with felony misconduct in office Cases against eight other people who worked for Waupun remain open in Dodge County Circuit Court. That includes a case against Waupun’s former warden Randy Hepp, who pleaded not guilty this summer to a charge of misconduct office with parts of the facility in eastern-central Wisconsin dating back to before the Civil War More than 700 men are incarcerated there. For more than a year in 2023 and 2024, inmates there were under lockdown during which normal movement and activities were restricted Waupun was plagued by severe short-staffing and prison officials citied safety concerns A sentencing memorandum for Homan also indicates that contraband smuggling at Waupun played a role in a “lack of institutional control,” which led officials to place Waupun under lockdown “The presence of contraband in (Waupun Correctional Institution) contributed to this lack of institutional control,” a memo written by federal prosecutors said “As part of its efforts to reestablish control resulting in the recovery of numerous cellular phones WCI provided information obtained from its investigation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) which included information that WCI staff were receiving bribes in exchange for smuggling in contraband.” about half of correctional positions at that facility were vacant but staffing levels have improved since then The most recent Department of Corrections data shows nearly 19 percent of Waupun’s correctional officer and sergeant positions are vacant which is slightly above the 14 percent average across Wisconsin’s adult prison system Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect that while nine people who worked at Waupun were initially charged with felonies in Dodge County Circuit Court one of those cases is now closed after the defendant pleaded no contest to a misdeamnor Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board WAUPUN — The former warden of the Waupun Correcitonal Institution has agreed to plea to a felony misconduct charge connected to the deaths of two inmates at Wisconsin’s oldest prison Randall Hepp Eight originally pleaded not guilty the felony charge in August of 2024 His sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 28th Hepp is among nine former employees at the prison who were originally charged in connection with the deaths of 24-year-old Cameron Williams and 62-year-old Donald Maier had a misconduct charge dismissed on April 1st PREVIOIUS COVERAGE: Nine people including Waupun warden arrested in connection to four in-custody deaths Hepp announced that he planned to retire at the end of June and that Deputy Warden Brad Mlodzik would take over Hepp was then arrested about two weeks after the announcement along with the eight other individuals Federal investigators also have been looking into an alleged smuggling ring involving Waupun prison employees. Governor Tony Evers office has said the probe has resulted in the suspension of nearly a dozen employees. A former prison worker pleaded guilty in September to smuggling cellphones tobacco and drugs into the facility in exchange for money As of March, seven people have died at the facility, which first opened in the 1850s. Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike have been calling for years to close it Concerns about local job losses and the cost of building a replacement prison have been stymied progress MILWAUKEE --  Nehring's Sendik's grocery store on Downer Ave has temporarily closed after the Milwaukee Health Department (MHD) found mouse and rat.. is voluntarily recalling its "on the vine" tomatoes over concerns of potential salmonella contamination... MILWAUKEE -- On the Monday before Mother's Day the Daisie Foundation is bringing its signature "Random acts of Kindness" event.. A 23-year-old inmate who died Tuesday at Waupun Correctional Institution marks at least the seventh death at the maximum-security facility in the last two years staff notified the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office and the Dodge County Medical Examiner’s Office of the death The Dodge County Medical Examiner’s Office is responsible for determining the cause of death," she said which would see the remodeling of Waupun Correctional Institution and the closure of Green Bay Correctional Institution of a rare stroke after begging staff for help a week after staff began periodically switching off the water to prevent him from flooding his cell He died of probable dehydration and malnutrition No charges were filed in the deaths of Dean Hoffmann, 60, who died by suicide June, 2023, and Tyshun Lemons who died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in early October The Dodge County Sheriff's Office, which has investigated all of the prison's in-custody deaths, has not released its findings into the deaths of two other prisoners who died in August of an apparent "self-inflicted incident," and Jay J Contact Vanessa Swales at 414-308-5881 or vswales@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @Vanessa_Swales (This story was updated to add new information.) former Waupun Correctional Institution warden and his attorney Michael Steinle stand inside Dodge County Circuit Court in Jueneau after a judge ordered Hepp to pay a $500 fine to resolve a misdemeanor charge in connection with an inmate’s 2024 death This booking photo provided by the Dodge County (AP) — A judge on Monday ordered a former Wisconsin prison warden implicated in an inmate’s death to pay a $500 fine to resolve the case after concluding he has no criminal record and didn’t realize his guards weren’t following policy Hepp was charged with felony misconduct in connection with Maier’s death a count punishable by up to three-and-a-half years in prison and $10,000 in fines Maier died of dehydration and malnutrition in solitary confinement in February 2024 after guards turned off the water in his cell Investigators said Hepp failed to ensure his staff followed policy Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will reduced the charge Monday to a misdemeanor count of violating laws governing a state or county institution in exchange for Hepp’s no contest plea The new charge is punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine “We have to make a decision about where to spend our resources and where to extend our resources and it’s not an easy thing to charge people in leadership of an institution,” Will later told reporters DeVries ordered Hepp to pay the $500 fine and court costs but didn’t sentence him to jail his lack of a criminal record and his “subpar employees” who failed to follow policy The judge called Hepp’s prosecution “symbolic.” told the judge Hepp was “extremely remorseful” and while a misdemeanor conviction might not mean much to a lot of people it does to him Hepp said he understood the plea bargain and waived his right to a trial He and Steinle left the courthouse without speaking to reporters “Nothing can bring my son back but I like to think we as a society would at least learn something from this tragedy so it never happens to someone else’s son,” Maier said in a statement Eight members of Hepp’s staff were charged in June with abuse or misconduct in the deaths of Williams or Maier Online court records show charges were dismissed against one of them this month and another pleaded guilty in September to a reduced count of misdemeanor violating laws governing a penal institution and was assessed a $250 fine Williams died of a stroke while in solitary confinement at Waupun in October 2023 His body was not discovered for at least 12 hours Williams told an inmate advocate three days before he died that he needed to go to a hospital but no action was taken He had fallen in the shower two days earlier and crawled back to his cell he had collapsed on the way back to his cell but neither fall was documented A federal investigation into smuggling at the prison has so far netted at least one former employee who pleaded guilty to smuggling cellphones and drugs in exchange for money Inmates have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging inhumane conditions and a lack of health care Hepp’s lawyer said senior guards at Waupun refuse to work in the solitary confinement unit leaving it to junior guards and guards brought in from other prisons to deal with staff shortages Steinle said problems will continue at Waupun until a new prison is built “Things happen in these restricted housing units “But clearly this is not what you expect as far as treatment of human beings.” This story has been corrected to show Hepp was charged in connection with Donald Maier’s death but not the death of Cameron Williams Nearly a dozen prison employees have now resigned or been fired since the U.S. Department of Justice launched a probe into a suspected drug, phone and contraband smuggling ring within Waupun Correctional Institution according to the state's Department of Corrections That's up from the five previously reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last spring nine had their employment terminated and two resigned while under investigation according to DOC spokesperson Beth Hardtke The department said it isn't yet releasing the names of nine individuals whose employment was terminated because they are still under investigation In September, however, a former facilities repair worker at Waupun Correctional Institution pleaded guilty in federal court to smuggling contraband into the prison tobacco products and controlled substances the former employee had received payments from prisoners former prisoners and "associates" of prisoners totaling more than $53,000 The probe came at a time when the state's correctional system faced growing criticism from prison rights advocates and families of Waupun prisoners following a spate of in-custody deaths extended lock-down periods and poor access to on-site health care and services Donald W. Maier The Journal Sentinel also reported on the deaths of Jay J Schmidt did not immediately respond to questions about the status of his office's investigation into their deaths Last summer, the prison's former warden and eight other workers correctional sergeants and lieutenants at the facility were arrested and charged with misconduct in office and abuse of residents of a penal facility related to the deaths of Williams and Maier (Waupun) The former warden at Waupun Correctional Institution entered into a plea agreement Monday Randall Hepp entered a no contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of Violating State/County Institution Laws.   He had originally been facing a felony count of Misconduct in Office in connection to the deaths of two prisoners Hepp was found guilty of the misdemeanor and a Dodge County judge ordered he pay a $500 fine and court costs.   nine state employees were charged in the deaths of two inmates at Waupun Correctional The Dodge County medical examiner determined that one of the deaths was a homicide after an autopsy revealed the man died from malnutrition and dehydration.   The other prisoner was found in his cell 12 hours after he suffered a stroke Cases remain open against six others who have been charged.   entered a similar plea deal with state prosecutors Charges were dropped against Jeramie Chalker who was a correctional sergeant.   was charged with misconduct in public office regarding the death of 62-year-old Donald Maier In a criminal complaint describing Maier's death — which the Dodge County Medical Examiner ruled a homicide — Chalker was accused of initialing that he completed two cell check rounds on the restrictive housing unit Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will wrote Chalker told investigators he had been instructed by his superior officer to fill out the rounds sheets and was merely "following chain of command." "Based on the detectives knowledge of the investigation they believed that this information could be accurate the state believes that the dismissal of Mr Chalker’s charge is in the interest of justice," the motion reads Neither Will nor Chalker's defense attorney were immediately available to provide additional details Chalker is the second defendant to have their case concluded without a felony conviction Cases are ongoing for the remaining seven staffers including closing Green Bay Correctional Institution and spending $245 million to update Waupun Correctional Ransbottom was ordered to pay a fine of $250 Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Martin De Vries said Ransbottom's actions "did not contribute to anybody's death." He said that had her signature not been on a log that was part of the investigation into Maier's death Ransbottom told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that signing off on rounds in the restrictive housing unit every half hour was a part of a new policy implemented at the Waupun prison after Williams' death in October 2023 which was shared with staff in an internal memo no Waupun staff members face homicide charges They were all accused of either misconduct in public office or abuse of residents of penal facilities — both felonies that carry a maximum penalty of 1½ years in prison and two years of extended supervision from malnutrition and probable dehydration An investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office found in the days before Maier's death prison staff members intermittently shut off water to Maier's cell to prevent him from flooding it Maier had been housed in the prison's behavioral health unit for treatment of "known and documented severe mental health issues and medical problems." But overnight between Feb he was moved to an observation cell in the restrictive housing unit because he had made comments about self-harm but remained in the restrictive housing unit staff members periodically turned on and off his access to water he made repeated statements about wanting water There was also evidence Maier had not eaten since five days before his death and staff did not follow protocol for noting when meals were missed The following are the former staff members with ongoing cases and their alleged involvement in Maier's death According to a criminal complaint for his death a sergeant and a lieutenant — discussed entering Williams' cell the evening before he died after they were unable to get a response from Williams during a welfare check WAUPUN (WLUK) -- A child was severely injured after being attacked by three dogs in Waupun emergency responders were called to the 200 block of Fond du Lac Street for a report of three dogs attacking a child The child was taken to a hospital for injuries sustained in the attack was also bitten while trying to stop the dogs also tried to physically remove the dogs from the child a 42-year-old woman was able to get the dogs back into her residence Police ordered the owner to quarantine the dogs at an approved secure facility outside Waupun The dog owner is being issued numerous ordinance citations for Animals at Large (3) The appropriate criminal charges are being reviewed for a referral to the Fond du Lac County District Attorney's Office The dog owner is also civilly liable for any damages WAUPUN, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers proposed a half-million-dollar plan to revamp Wisconsin’s prison system For families with loved one’s serving time at the Waupun prison is currently serving 34 years at the Waupun prison after being convicted of felony robbery and felony burglary.  “He kind of looked just like me and it was natural for me to say he looked like my natural son,” said Carlisle.  Carlisle said Thompson started to get into trouble with the law at an early age.  She said there were many factors at play that led him to a life behind bars including the death of his father at an early age.  “I think it was much of that and a lot of poverty not having access to things other kids may have access to,” said Carlisle.  Carlisle said she thinks prison should be a place for rehabilitation where people come out better than when they went in.  She said her cousin is not currently getting the help he needs while serving time at the Waupun prison.  He made a mistake and we all make mistakes in life but to be treated as if you are an animal or worse than an animal,” said Carlisle.  Under Evers’ proposed plan, $245.3 million would be spent to demolish the existing cell halls at Waupun Correctional Institution and convert them into a state-of-the-art medium-security facility to house 600 individuals Spending would also designate the institution as Wisconsin’s first “vocational village” to offer skills training programs aimed at helping incarcerated individuals return to the workforce when they have completed their sentences and its goal is to lower the risk of reoffending said the prison is part of the city’s heritage and plays an important role in the local economy.  “The fact that they are our largest employer it is very important that we keep these institutions here in Waupun,” said Bishop.  Bishop has been inside of the prison and said it could use some updates.  “We have to remember it is a prison and people don’t get to Waupun Correctional Institution by being good,” said Bishop “Parts of the prison are fairly new and parts of the prison are fairly old and the cell blocks are fairly old and some of the living conditions could be updated some.”  Bishop has looked over the governor’s proposed plan and said that whether it stays a vocational village or remains a maximum security prison is not up to him.  “Those are decisions for the governor and the legislature to make,” said Bishop “I want to stay in my lane as the mayor and as the mayor I wanted to advocate that we keep the prison here.” Carlisle said her cousin has been struggling with mental health issues while inside the prison.  She said he was recently found in a pool of his own blood and worries that change won’t come soon enough.  I don’t think the jail staff took it seriously I am aware they have a new warden there now but I am still not sure with a recent death there is going to be any change,” said Carlisle.  Evers’ prison reform plan still needs approval from Republicans who control the legislature’s budget-writing committee the governor’s spending proposal for correctional facilities almost certainly won’t be adopted “as is.” “The caucus has to work through improving that plan As I mentioned once before a few weeks ago when I was asked about it so that’s all part of the process,” State Rep who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Finance “That’s one area where we will prepare legislative improvements to that plan like we have had to do with other things that have come out of this administration historically and we will work through that process in a normal fashion.” Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Jared Hoy has been invited to testify before the Joint Committee on Finance on April 1 about the budget and how the proposal would impact the agency WAUPUN – Several buildings in downtown Waupun were evacuated Friday night responding to the report of a gas odor at 9:19 p.m discovered a gas line and meter had been sheared off at ground level As a precaution, Waupun Fire Department crews evacuated all buildings on the north side of the 300 block of East Main Street East Main Street and North Madison Street were also temporarily closed Read more: Waupun-area brush fire burned about 50 acres Wednesday and destroyed a deer stand & fence Crews from Alliant Energy controlled the gas leak within 30 minutes Fire personnel then worked alongside Alliant Energy staff to inspect the affected buildings and ensure they were safe for re-entry all evacuees were allowed to return to their residences and businesses 20 individuals were evacuated and 20 properties experienced gas service disruptions Read more: Town of Metomen home in Fond du Lac County a total loss after fire Thursday afternoon Alliant Energy was to be back on scene Saturday morning to continue with repairs and working with property owners on re-lighting pilot lights Contact Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com trial dates for the first of the cases have been scheduled Jessica Hosfelt, 47, a former nurse at the prison charged with abuse of residents of penal facilities is the first of the nine staffers to have a trial set Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Martin De Vries said that … from what I’ve been told in court here today and looking at the complaint what you did wrong here did not cause or contribute to anybody’s death." The next defendant whose case may conclude is Jeramie Chalker a former correctional sergeant charged with misconduct in public office if he enters a plea at his next hearing April 4 Ransbottom and Chalker are three of seven former Waupun prison staff who were charged in the February 2024 death of Donald Maier a 62-year-old prisoner who authorities say died of malnutrition and probable dehydration Three staff members were charged in connection with the October 2023 death of Cameron Williams a 24-year-old prisoner who died of a rare stroke after investigators say he did not receive medical attention Both Maier's and Williams' deaths came during a 16-month-long lockdown at Waupun Correctional Institution that the Wisconsin Department of Corrections said was put in place to protect prisoners and correctional staff during a period of severe understaffing Reports from prisoners about conditions during the period of restricted movement led to calls from prison reform advocates to make significant changes to Wisconsin prisons Then, on Feb. 16, Gov. Tony Evers announced a proposal as part of his next two-year budget to overhaul the state's prisons with renovations that would turn Waupun Correctional Institution into a "vocational village" with expanded job training and entirely shut down Green Bay Correctional Institution here is what to know about the ongoing criminal cases against former Waupun Correctional Institution staffers: What are the details surrounding Maier's and Williams' deaths?Maier's death was ruled a homicide by the Dodge County medical examiner Prison staff found Maier dead in his cell just before 3:30 p.m The medical examiner estimated he had likely died hours before An investigation by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office found prison staff members intermittently shut off water to Maier's cell to prevent him from flooding it They also failed to document missed meals and provide Maier with his medications The investigation found Maier likely only received medication once during the nine days he spent in the prison's restrictive housing unit before his death told investigators that staff's failure to follow policies and procedures was "the inevitable outcome of a long-term staffing deficit," the complaint says A criminal complaint for his death states three staff members — a nurse Prisoners told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that Williams called for medical help Maier and Williams were two of six prisoners who died at Waupun Correctional Institution in a span of about 14 months Families in some of the deaths have filed federal lawsuits against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and prison staff RELATED: Waupun Correctional Institution: Timeline of prisoner deaths, investigations, criminal cases, lawsuits, resignations at troubled prison RELATED: Former Waupun correctional officer convicted, fined for crime linked to inmate's death RELATED: 2 Waupun prison staff members plead not guilty to abuse in prisoner deaths defendants have had numerous telephone scheduling conferences (This story was updated to add information.) Contact Kelli Arseneau at 920-213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @ArseneauKelli WAUPUN – Marsh Haven Nature Center wants to improve its west-side boardwalk and is seeking the community's help is decaying and reaching the end of its life expectancy spring flooding has often covered the boardwalk Marsh Haven has plans to extend the boardwalk by 80 feet — connecting it to the north-side boardwalk — raise it add an attached gazebo and also build a 12-by-12-foot accessible observation deck on the lake's east side These improvements aim to enhance visitor experience with better opportunities for hiking Read more: Fond du Lac's top stories a year ago included good Samaritan rescuing 2 women from Rock River and anonymous donors have stepped in to match up to $15,000 Donations are accepted through the Beaver Dam Area Community Foundation website, which is also linked on the Marsh Haven website, marshhaven.org They are also accepted in person at the nature center with the funds designated for the Boardwalks for Wildlife Campaign All donors will have their name permanently engraved on the boardwalk's sponsors plaque and community support helped rebuilding efforts in 2016 according to the project's impact statement a grant from the Fond du Lac Community Foundation and Compeer funded upgrades to the north-side boardwalk The goal is to raise the funds for the west-side boardwalk project by this fall Read more: Horicon Marsh is one of Wisconsin's wetlands. Here's why these habitats are important. What is the Marsh Haven Nature Center?The Marsh Haven Nature Center is a non-profit center situated on the north side of the Horicon Marsh and opportunities for camping and group visits The center is open for the season from noon to 4 p.m For more information, contact Director Matt Rupnik at director@marshhaven.org or 920-318-9518 Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at dlemke@gannett.com The Waupun Correctional Institution will forever be changed if Gov Tony Evers and Republican legislators can reach an agreement The governor is proposing prison reform in his next two-year state budget including closing the aging state prison near Green Bay and overhauling the also old Waupun prison but only if a troubled youth prison in Irma is closed The Waupun prison, opened in 1854, and has long been a place affiliated with difficult living conditions for prisoners, despite renovations in recent years. It is something even celebrated Milwaukee alderwoman Vel Phillips said was happening during her visit to the prison in 1971 overcrowding and understaffing have accompanied prisoner deaths and extended periods of restricted movement at the facility On March 30, 2023, Waupun Mayor Rohn W. Bishop told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel the prison was under lockdown advocates and public officials were forced to reckon with six prisoners dying a series of investigations being launched at the local March 29, 2023: Waupun Correctional Institution enters 'modified movement'The Wisconsin Department of Corrections transitions Waupun Correctional Institution to what it calls “modified movement.” The phase restricts movement throughout the prison resulting in prisoners locked in their cells The prisoners are also banned from gathering in communal spaces The department says some of the prison’s population were “breaking rules that are in place to assure everyone’s safety.” Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle cite ongoing staffing shortages at Waupun Correctional and across the prison system as the reason for many problems inside the facilities that can result in a lockdown Prisoners began to tell reporters of the conditions inside the prison from plumbing problems to a lack of air conditioning and poor food options Prisoners say they are only allowed one shower a week and are sharing cells Others report they can not visit the law library which is closed for a short period of time Dean Hoffmann Hoffmann has a long-documented history of bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts It is later learned through records that in the two and a half months leading to his suicide prison staff failed to provide his bipolar and antidepressant medications as prescribed more than three-quarters of the time October 2, 2023: Tyshun Lemons dies of a drug overdoseTyshun Lemons, 30, dies of an accidental overdose of acetyl fentanyl and fentanyl while in general population Lemons' family members say they have concerns about the medical examiner's ruling and how the drugs found their way into the maximum-security prison says his brother also had mental health conditions Lonnie Story, a Florida-based attorney licensed in Wisconsin, files a class action lawsuit on behalf of nearly a dozen prisoners at Waupun Correctional The suit alleges prison officials have not adequately provided proper health care to prisoners amid the ongoing lockdown including a waiting list for dental services stretching out 18 months Story also ends up representing three families of prisoners who died in custody Most plaintiffs have since been removed from the suit as a federal judge ruled most prisoners didn't exhaust all internal complaint administrative processes before the case was filed Cameron Williams, 24, dies of a rare stroke in solitary confinement. Prisoners who were in the same unit at Williams tell the Journal Sentinel that in the days leading up to his death he begged for help from staff and was ignored as his health quickly deteriorated Court records later reveal that medical passes and hourly rounds were skipped or barely meeting procedural requirements Evers tells reporters he hasn't recently visited the state prisons that have been the site of at least three deaths in four months He says he is in "constant contact" with prison staff and Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr visits Waupun Correctional daily Evers and Carr announce plans to loosen the restrictions at Waupun Correctional as well as Green Bay Correctional Institution The plans include opening access to more services in the prisons reducing the prisoner population at Waupun Correctional and continuing to recruit more staff with the enticement of higher pay prisoners are allowed to attend recreation but many advocates say too many restrictions on movement remain The family of Dean Hoffmann files a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections alleging Hoffmann’s civil rights were violated in the months leading up to his death says it is "time to hold somebody accountable." Donald Maier, 62, died of probable dehydration and malnutrition in solitary confinement The death comes after prison staff began intermittently shutting off the water to prevent him from flooding his cell The manner of his death is later ruled a homicide In the approximately nine days from the time Maier was moved to the restrictive housing unit cell to his death March 1, 2024: DOC Secretary announces his departureWisconsin Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr announces he is leaving his position as the agency's leader “The past five years have been quite memorable and I could not be prouder to have worked with some of the finest public servants in the country who are doing amazing work every day under very difficult conditions,” Carr says in a statement Carr was among the first secretaries Evers named to his cabinet After a DOC sweep of housing units at Waupun Correctional turned up contraband state officials notify federal authorities As a result, the U.S. Department of Justice launches an investigation into an alleged conspiracy within Waupun Correctional to bring in cell phones tells reporters in early March an initial DOC probe "revealed allegations of potential employee involvement in those illegal activities including information suggesting financial crimes may have occurred." The DOC tells the Journal Sentinel five employees have resigned or were fired since the U.S Department of Justice began its investigation into the smuggling allegations Another six employees remain on administrative leave The mother of Cameron Williams files a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Raven Anderson believes her son suffered cruel and unusual punishment as his physical and mental health quickly deteriorated “He did have a mental illness and I don’t think that they took the time to recognize that,” Anderson tells the Journal Sentinel A fifth prisoner dies in less than a year at the prison According to Department of Corrections records died on May 23 and Schmidt said an investigation is underway The deputy secretary of the Department of Corrections, Jared Hoy, is promoted to head of the department by Evers “There is no more noble calling than maintaining community safety by caring for justice-involved individuals It is why I have devoted my entire career to public service as a corrections practitioner," Hoy says in a statement May 28, 2024: Waupun warden tells staff he is leaving his postWaupun Warden Randall Hepp announces his resignation in an email to prison staff Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt announces criminal charges against nine prison employees in two of the in-custody deaths — Williams and Maier No criminal charges are issued for the other two deaths — Hoffmann and Lemons "'Persons in our care' is not a phrase I would use in Waupun Correctional Institution," Schmidt said referring to the DOC's language for prisoners "These people were not cared for," he said The Sheriff's Office later confirms the death investigations remain open Three employees are charged in connection with Williams' death each face one count of abuse of residents of penal facilities faces two counts of abuse of residents of penal facilities in Williams' death Fisher also is charged in connection to Maier’s death with two counts of abuse of residents of penal facilities is charged with one count of felony misconduct in public office in that case The other employees who were charged with misconduct or abuse of a resident in a penal facility in connection with Maier's death were correctional officers Jamall Rabb Russell 36; correctional sergeants Jeramie Heyward Chalker All but Ransbottom have ongoing criminal cases. Republican state lawmakers signal interest in requiring more oversight of the state's prisons and call for closing the facilities in Waupun and Green Bay also call for action on the prison system and closing the two troubled facilities The sister of Tyshun Lemons, who died of an accidental overdose, files a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Department of Corrections alleging that Lemons’ constitutional rights were violated The lawsuit claims that DOC officials "willfully and deliberately ignored their duties," and that their "deliberate indifference to the conditions" at Waupun Correctional resulted in Lemons being able to obtain the drugs and overdose on them 2024: Lawmakers hear from Hoffmann's daughterWisconsin lawmakers listened to at times heartbreaking testimony about the state's embattled prison system both from former guards and family members of those incarcerated In a public hearing that stretched over five hours long members of the Assembly Committee on Corrections listened to speakers who had been invited by lawmakers Megan Kolb, the daughter of Dean Hoffmann, who died at Waupun Correctional Institution last year spoke about her father's struggles while incarcerated "He was placed in solitary due to his mental illness," Kolb said "My father declined rapidly during those 80 days at Waupun." There was one point where Hoffmann went eight days without his medications and he even told officers he was suicidal and hearing voices Kolb said his death could have been prevented "In one of the last letters my dad wrote while at Waupun "My father's death could have been prevented." The Department of Corrections signaled an end to the lockdown at Waupun Correctional and also returned to in-person visitation Aug 5, 2024: Christopher McDonald dies from 'likely a self-inflicted incident'A sixth prisoner in a little over a year dies at the prison died from "likely a self-inflicted incident," according to Sheriff Schmidt Former facilities repair worker at the prison pleads guilty in federal court to smuggling contraband into the prison tobacco products and controlled substances into the facility in exchange for money As part of a plea deal, Sarah Ann Margaret Ransbottom, 36, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of violating the law of a state or county institution, rather than the felony charge she originally faced, misconduct in public office The charge is in connection to prisoner Maier's death said there was "some horrible work and terrible injustice that was done in the prison," but that Ransbottom was not a part of it Eleven prison employees have now resigned or been fired since the U.S. Department of Justice launched a probe into a suspected drug, phone and contraband smuggling ring within the prison Jan. 31, 2025: DOC orders external reviewThe DOC says an external review of the department is underway The Chicago-based Falcon Correctional and Community Services began conducting visits to prisons Secretary Hoy and top DOC staff began discussions with Falcon in mid-June during which he and his staff expressed "an interest in a broad organizational assessment" of all adult prisons including solitary confinement practices and healthcare The firm also proposed it would assess DOC culture and leadership and professional growth during the first stage of the review process The Journal Sentinel reports that Gov. Evers will propose in his next two-year state budget a half of a billion dollar plan to close a state prison and overhaul several others Evers seeks a transformation of the facility into a "vocational village" with a focus on expanding job training The governor cited local support for keeping Waupun open as part of his plan Vanessa Swales and Laura Schulte contributed to this report This story was updated to add new information former warden of Waupun Correctional Institution charged with felony misconduct in public office appears in a Dodge County Circuit Court for a plea and sentencing hearing in Juneau on Monday Defense attorney Michael Steinle appears in Dodge County Circuit Court with his client Hepp was charged with felony misconduct in public office Dodge County District Attorney Andrea Will appears in court as Randall Hepp former warden of Waupun Correctional Institution who was charged with felony misconduct takes part in a plea and sentencing hearing in Juneau on Monday waves to a supporter as he leaves after appearing in a Dodge County Circuit Court for a plea and sentencing hearing in Juneau on Monday talks with his defense attorney Michael Steinle in a Dodge County Circuit Court during a plea and sentencing hearing in Juneau on Monday former warden of Waupun Correctional Institution who was charged with felony misconduct in public office takes part in a plea and sentencing hearing in Juneau on Monday Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Martin De Vries presides as Randall Hepp leaves a Dodge County Circuit Court after a plea and sentencing hearing in Juneau on Monday WAUPUN – A 19-year-old Waupun man has been arrested on suspicion of multiple drug-related charges following a Dodge County Drug Task Force investigation Dodge County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release the man was arrested Tuesday after he was stopped for multiple traffic violations and found to be in possession of cocaine Read more: Waupun man gets 7 days in jail, $1,500 fine for voting while on felony probation The release said the man was arrested for violations of possession of cocaine operating while under the influence and operating with a restricted controlled substance and investigators later conducted a search warrant at an address linked to the man in the town of Chester That search resulted in the seizure of additional illicit drugs drug paraphernalia and drug-related currency The Dodge County Drug Task Force had also previously conducted multiple operations in which the man sold cocaine Read more: Fond du Lac jury convicts man, 48, of trying to kill woman in January 2023 incident The man has been charged with multiple counts of delivery of cocaine possession of cocaine and possession of THC The release said anyone with information about drug trafficking in Dodge County can report it by contacting the Dodge County Drug Task Force at 920-386-4047 Contact Brandon Reid at breid@gannett.com.