August 14, 2013 at 5:23 p.m.
Alsteens charged with attempted homicide in Mason Street shooting
Alsteens charged with attempted homicide in Mason Street shooting
Marcus L. Alsteens, 23, made his initial appearance in Oneida County Circuit Court Wednesday afternoon via video from the county jail. After hearing arguments from counsel, Judge Patrick O'Melia set a $50,000 cash bond.
Alsteens is charged with felony counts of attempted first degree intentional homicide, aggravated battery, injury by negligent use of a weapon and a misdemeanor count of negligent handling of a weapon.
If convicted of all charges, he could be sentenced to nearly 80 years in the state prison system.
The criminal complaint alleges Alsteens shot his uncle, Justin F. Alsteens, 49, in the stomach with a 7mm rifle in a home at 645 Mason Street Monday and fled the scene. Officers responded to reports of the shooting at approximately 7:45 p.m.
There were two other people in the house when the shooting took place, in addition to the victim and the suspect, according to investigators. Justin Alsteens was transported to Ministry St. Mary's Hospital and later airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield where he remains in critical condition.
Oneida County District Attorney Mike Schiek said Wednesday the victim has not been conscious since the incident and investigators have not yet obtained a statement. Schiek said Marcus Alsteens did speak with investigators but the motive for the shooting remains unclear.
"The defendant did give a statement to police where he admitted to shooting the victim over an argument. It's not clear what that was. Just that it escalated," Schiek said.
Alsteens was taken into custody by the Oneida County Sheriff's Office Monday night on Wisconsin Highway 17, near Eagle River.
According to an interview a Rhinelander Police Department detective conducted with Alsteens on Tuesday, the defendant was living at the Mason Street residence with his uncle. The defendant provided vague answers about what he and his uncle had been arguing about prior to the shooting. According to the complaint, Alsteens retrieved a rifle from a cabinet in his bedroom, went into the room his uncle was in and shot him. When the detective asked Alsteens what he was thinking about when he went to go get the gun, Alsteens responded, "I was just really pissed off at that time."
It's not clear who will represent Alsteens, but public defender John Voorhees appeared with him in court Wednesday. He referenced the defendant's lack of a criminal background - one seat belt violation on record from 2009 - and argued for a cash bond of a few thousand dollars.
Judge O'Melia talked about Alsteens' ties to the community and said that would typically warrant a signature bond. However, considering the nature of the alleged offense and the fact that the defendant fled the scene, O'Melia said a significant cash bond is necessary.
"It's unclear what the argument was but you obtained a gun from a cabinet, went into another room and, from the hip, shot your uncle," O'Melia said. "Then, as you put it, you got in your truck and drove away."
Alsteens will appear in court Monday, Aug. 19 for an adjourned initial appearance.
Kyle Rogers may be reached at [email protected].
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