July 22, 2016 at 4:08 p.m.
Eagle River man accepts plea agreement on 38 forgery counts
Deal closes cases in Vilas, Oneida counties
Eagle River man accepts plea agreement on 38 forgery counts
Trevor J. Squiller was charged Feb. 15 with 22 forgery counts and six counts of fraudulent use of a credit card in Oneida County. The remainder of the charges were filed the same day in Vilas County. In a global resolution worked out between the defense and district attorneys in both counties, Squiller pled no contest to three counts of forgery of a check. The rest were dismissed but read in for purposes of restitution.
Squiller told VIlas County Circuit Judge Neal A. Nielsen he was prescribed high doses of Oxycontin for pain after he sustained serious injuries in a head-on car crash.
"They handed them to me like candy," Squiller told Nielsen at one point in the proceedings.
He also told Nielsen that he doesn't really know when he became addicted to the painkiller, just that he needed to get the drug even after the doctors cut off his supply.
According to the criminal complaint in the Oneida County case, the victim contacted the Vilas County sheriff's department on June 22, 2015 after she received a credit card statement that contained several purchases she did not make. In the course of the investigation, numerous charges were discovered at stores in Rhinelander and Eagle River. In some cases police found video of Squiller signing for the purchases. In other incidents, Squiller would use a credit card to take something out of a pawn shop, only to turn around a pawn the items again for cash.
Each of the forgery counts is a class H felony, carrying a maximum sentence of up to three years in prison, three years of extended supervision and a fine of up to $10,000.
Because he had no criminal record beyond traffic tickets prior to his arrest on these charges, assistant district attorney David Breedlove and Squiller's attorney Steve Richards worked out a plea agreement that would offer Squiller the incentive of staying out of prison if he could successfully complete five years of probation with conditions. Driving the resolution was the need to get restitution for the victim. Breedlove told Nielsen that the Vilas County total hasn't even been finalized yet because two banks are involved.
"He's young and should be able to eventually get a job to pay the restitution during the term of his probation, despite the felony record he now has.
"He's young," Breedlove said. "He went from no criminal record to three felony convictions."
Despite his lack of a criminal record and even though Squiller was stealing to feed a serious drug addiction, the prosecutor did recommend 6 months in jail.
Breedlove said the agreement offers one further incentive to stay drug-free and out of trouble. He asked that Nielsen rule that Squiller be eligible to have the conviction expunged from his record if he successfully completes probation.
Richards told the judge his client has already managed to repay one financial institution $4,000, which demonstrates his sincerity in paying for his crimes. He said Squiller understands that some time behind bars is called for, but declined to offer a sentencing recommendation of his own.
Squiller then spoke on his own behalf, apologizing for his actions. He said the Oxcontin turned him into someone he didn't recognize.
"I want that person gone," he told the judge.
Under questioning from the judge, Squiller said in addition to the addiction to the pain killer, he has suffered from some physical and psychological problems as a result of his head injuries. He said he has trouble sleeping in a strange place without severe anxiety and must take medication for his thought process to "fire properly."
He also admitted to having been clean of the drug for just two weeks, and hasn't sought medical treatment for the anxiety issues.
"I know everybody who does that crap (Oxycontin) and I'm bring to steer clear of them," Squiller said.
Nielsen told Squiller he is not the first defendant to come before him whose addiction to painkillers led to legal trouble.
"We see a lot of people who become addicted after being prescribed painkillers," Nielsen said.
"I'm telling you right now, if you are revoked, the chances are real good you will end up in prison," he added, noting that if he has a hard time sleeping in a strange place due to his anxiety disorder, he would not find prison a pleasant experience.
He then went along with the plea agreement withholding sentence and placing Squiller on probation for five years. During that time, he is to have an alcohol or drug assessment and follow through with whatever treatment is recommended. He will also have to pay restitution in all 38 counts, a total amount that will be determined at a later date.
"You will never be able to look yourself in the mirror if you do not pay the restitution," Nielsen said, before sentencing Squiller to six months in jail as a condition of probation.
He gave Squiller 60 days to meet with the jail administrator to see if their were anti-anxiety medication he could be prescribed to help him get through his jail stay.
Nielsen also stated that if Squiller were to enter in-patient treatment for his addiction, he would allow day-for-day credit for up to 45 days.
Squiller was also given the incentive of having the felony convictions expunged from his criminal record if he successfully complies with the terms of his probation. Further, if full restitution has been paid after three years, Nielsen said Squiller could apply for early release from probation.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at jtaylor @lakelandtimes.com.
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