March 6, 2015 at 4:29 p.m.
Rhinelander man gets 4 years for string of 2014 burglaries
Rhinelander man gets 4 years for string of 2014 burglaries
By Jamie Taylor-jamie@rivernewsonline.com
Benjamin Marquardt was sentenced last week to four years confinement and five years extended supervision after entering no contest pleas to four counts of burglary, three counts of misdemeanor theft and one misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property.
Marquardt was originally charged with a total of 10 felony and eight misdemeanor counts in connection with break-ins at the Sportsman's Cafe, Sunset Junction, Arby's and Burger King in Rhinelander last March.
Each charge carried the repeater enhancer, which could have added six years to each felony sentence.
Marquardt entered no contest pleas Feb. 11 to four counts of burglary, three counts of misdemeanor theft and one count of misdemeanor criminal damage to property. As part of the plea agreement, the other 10 counts and the repeater enhancers were dismissed.
Oneida County District Attorney Michael Schiek told Branch II Judge Michael Bloom that Marquardt was going for "big ticket items" like safes when he broke into Arby's and Burger King. Although he was not able to open the safe in either location, Mar-quardt did damage cash registers, headphones, security cameras and other equipment in both restaurants, Schiek said.
Schiek said Marquardt broke into the Sportsman's Café to take money and exact revenge on the owner for firing him.
"It was my understanding that the defendant worked there at some point and it was obvious in how entrance was gained (into the building) as well as disengaging the surveillance system," Schiek said.
Marquardt was a regular customer at Sunset Junction, according to Schiek, and would often play the video poker machines there. In that robbery, Marquardt broke into the gambling machines and took currency, Schiek said. He also emptied the cash he found in other locations in the bar. Schiek said the owner of that business did not calculate the loss and damages.
"Each incident opened up a separate and distinct case. It was quite obvious from the beginning that they were all linked together," Schiek said, adding it took a lot of investigative legwork before charges were filed.
Marquardt's public defender attorney John Voorhees said that his client had a "chaotic and tragic" childhood and drugs and alcohol fueled his criminal behavior.
"Mr. Marquardt has a longstanding AODA (alcohol and druge abuse) problem dating back to his teenage years," Voorhees said. "I'm not offering that as an excuse, but I think these were reckless and spontaneous crimes stemming from his substance abuse problems."
Marquardt apologized for his actions.
"The victims of these crimes should understand that they were not personal," Marquardt said.
Bloom said that despite having a good job, Marquardt's addictions drove him to commit the crimes.
"That's what makes it so tragic, to see you in court charged as you are despite everything you had going for you," Bloom said.
Bloom then sentenced Marquardt to four years initial confinement and five years extended supervision, to run consecutive to a three-year sentence he is serving on a previous burglary conviction. He was also ordered to pay $2,426.64 in restitution.
Marquardt likely has another day in court coming. A pending case in Lincoln County is nearing a resolution, Voorhees said.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at jtaylor@lakelandtimes.com.
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