November 8, 2013 at 5:18 p.m.
RHS English teacher facing drug, theft charges
RHS English teacher facing drug, theft charges
Joshua D. Juergens, 35, made an appearance in Oneida County Circuit Court Friday via video from the Oneida County jail. A $1,500 cash bond was set. Juergens is facing six different criminal charges after a state search warrant was executed Wednesday at his Bass Lake Loop Road residence in the town of Pine Lake.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators found several items suspected to be stolen from Rhinelander High School including three laptop computers and laboratory equipment. Investigators also discovered a marijuana grow operation in the basement of the home. The complaint states there were 66 suspected marijuana plants. According to investigators there was "a level of sophistication to the grow operation, indicating the person who operated the system had conducted research or training."
Also seized from Juergens' home were items of drug paraphernalia, prescription medications (some of which were not prescribed to Juergens) and a laptop computer investigators suspect belongs to a woman who was part of a staff training on computer software held at the high school in September.
The criminal complaint indicates the theft investigation originated with the staff training which occurred at the high school on Sept. 9. A woman, who was one of the instructors, reported her laptop (valued at $1,900) was stolen sometime during the course of that day.
School officials and the school district's liaison officer reviewed video of where the training had occurred and where the laptop had been located, but did not observe anyone take the computer.
The criminal complaint does not indicate what led investigators to seek a search warrant for Juergens' residence Wednesday.
In court Friday, Oneida County District Attorney Mike Schiek said additional information about the case is still coming in, but there is a basis for the two felony and four misdemeanor counts that are currently charged. Juergens is facing two misdemeanor counts of theft, two misdemeanor drug charges (possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of an illegally obtained prescription), and two felony level marijuana charges. The most severe is manufacturing THC greater than 2,500 grams, a class F felony that carries a maximum possible penalty of 12 1/2 years in the state prison system.
The complaint states that Juergens was interviewed by law enforcement Thursday. He admitted to taking scientific and laboratory equipment from the high school but said another teacher had given him permission to do so. Juergens said he also had permission from another teacher to take the three laptop computers belonging to the school district in order to work on them. When questioned about the laptop police believe belongs to the instructor of the Sept. 9 staff training, Juergens said "he found the laptop in his school bag while at home and did not know where it came from." In reference to the marijuana grow operation, Juergens told investigators he was not selling the drug. He said "he was smoking it and allowing others to smoke it."
In a separate incident, Juergens was arrested Tuesday following a domestic disturbance at his Pine Lake residence. According to the criminal complaint in that case, a woman called Oneida County dispatch reporting that Juergens pushed her and she fell back onto a couch after she entered the residence to retrieve the keys to her vehicle. A $500 cash bond has been set in that case.
According to online court records, Juergens has two previous convictions. In 1997, he was convicted of possession of THC (a misdemeanor) in Marathon County. In 2011, he was convicted of disorderly conduct (an ordinance violation) in Dane County.
Juergens was included in a group photo published by the River News in August of new teachers hired for the 2013-'14 school year. School officials said there is no information indicating Juergens' actions involved other people or that the safety of students and staff members was ever in jeopardy. Juergens remains under contract with by the school district but will not be teaching while this matter is under investigation, school officials said Friday.
"Mr. Juergens is currently under an employment contract with the School District of Rhinelander as authorized by our Board of Education," Assistant Superintendent Dave Wall said. "However, he will not be in the classroom while an investigation is being conducted between law enforcement and school officials."
Juergens will next appear in court Thursday, Nov. 14.
Kyle Rogers may be reached at [email protected].
Comments:
You must login to comment.