June 3, 2015 at 4:56 p.m.
Wolf nearing plea deal in homicide case
Wolf nearing plea deal in homicide case
Latoya J. Wolf, 33, was in Oneida County Circuit Court Tuesday for a pretrial conference at which time her attorney, Chris Gramstrump, and Oneida County District Attorney Mike Schiek requested the hearing be adjourned for 30 days to allow more time to finalize a possible plea agreement.
Wolf has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide (as a party to the crime) in connection with the death of Kenneth "Punky" Wells in June 2003.
Schiek told Judge Michael Bloom the two sides have had some promising discussions toward resolving the case before it reaches trial.
"There has been correspondence going back and forth as late as yesterday with the facts, so there are active discussions," Schiek said. "I last spoke with Mr. Gramstrup this morning before the hearing."
He then said that he and Gramstrup were jointly requesting the hearing be adjourned for 30 days.
"I have not had an opportunity to discuss with Latoya the last update as to where we're at after this morning. So I need a little time to do that," Gramstrup said. "But I'm hopeful. I think we're pretty close, your honor."
Bloom approved the joint request and adjourned the hearing until July 2.
"If anything of substance is going to occur at that time, it would be appropriate for you to be here in person. Otherwise, if it's going to be more pro forma matters, you can certainly appear by phone," Bloom said.
Wolf made her initial appearance on Jan. 20 without an attorney and had two adjourned initial appearances before Gramstrup was appointed by the state public defender's office.
Wells' body was recovered from the Wisconsin River behind the Trig's Riverwalk Centre on July 1, 2003. Although court records indicate Wolf first told police she had information about Wolf's 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 and subsequent interviews were conducted as recently as 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.
According to the complaint and previous court testimony, Wolf told police she helped place a plastic bag over Wells' head and roll him into the river. Eventually, she also admitted to investigators that she struck Wells in the head with a rock at the urging of her ex-husband, Shannon Wolf, who she said lured Wells under the Davenport Street bridge near the river. Shannon Wolf has also been charged with first-degree intentional homicide (as party to the crime).
He is due back in court June 10.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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