July 31, 2015 at 5:08 p.m.
Wolf pleads no contest to reduced charge
Plea deal calls for 12 years in prison, testimony against ex-husband
Wolf pleads no contest to reduced charge
Latoya J. Wolf, 33, who had been charged with first-degree intentional homicide (as a party to the crime) in connection with the death of Kenneth "Punky" Wells, appeared in Branch II of Oneida County Circuit Court before Judge Michael Bloom. Her public defender Chris Gramstrup and Oneida County District Attorney Michael Bloom outlined the terms of plea agreement in court.
In exchange for her no contest plea to second-degree intentional homicide (as a party to a crime), and her testimony against her ex-husband Shannon Wolf at his trial in October, Schiek will ask for 12 years incarceration and 13 years extended supervision. The maximum sentence on the class B felony is 60 years, with a split sentence of 40 years behind bars and 20 years on extended supervision.
Schiek said the deal binds him to asking for the 12/13 split even if the Department of Corrections recommends a harsher sentence in a pre-sentence report.
Bloom is not bound by the terms of the deal and may sentence Wolf to anything up to and including the maximum if he determines the facts warrant it.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 6, which is after Shannon Wolf's scheduled trial predicted to last up to seven days.
Wells' body was recovered from the Wisconsin River behind the Trig's Riverwalk Centre on July 1, 2003. Although court records indicate Latoya Wolf first told police she had information about Wells' death back in 2012, she was not charged until Jan. 19.
According to court documents, Wolf began giving investigators information concerning Wells' death in February 2012. Subsequent interviews were conducted in March 2014. Wolf's statements are described in the criminal complaint as being very detailed and containing information that only someone who witnessed the death would be able to share.
On Jan. 23, she was interviewed by Detective Sergeant Brian Zohimsky at which time she demonstrated how she claims Wells was struck in the back of the head with a rock at the hands of Shannon Wolf, her then husband, and eventually placed in the river. A dummy was used so that she could demonstrate how a large plastic shopping bag was allegedly placed over Wells' head and rope tied around his neck. She also said that Shannon held Wells under the water until he stopped thrashing. That interview was recorded on video and a 28-minute portion of it was played at Shannon Wolf's preliminary hearing March 6.
The initial autopsy conducted by an assistant medical examiner in the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner's office revealed that Wells died of "probable freshwater drowning." The manner of death was ruled "undetermined."
Bloom has scheduled seven days for Shannon Wolf's trial starting Thursday, Oct. 15 and running through Friday, Oct. 23.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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