January 10, 2018 at 4:08 p.m.
Rhinelander man accepts plea deal in death of dog
Rhinelander man accepts plea deal in death of dog
Robert J. Runnerstrom was charged May 30, 2016 with mistreatment of an animal causing death, a class I felony, along with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and bail jumping. He also faced a traffic case where he was charged with operating while revoked and failure to install an ignition interlock device.
As late as Friday when Runnerstrom appeared before Branch II judge Michael Bloom for a final pre-trial hearing, a jury trial on the felony charge was scheduled to start Wednesday. At that hearing, Runnerstrom's attorney Mary Roth Burns said district attorney Michael Schiek had made a plea offer but she had not had a chance to discuss it with her client. Bloom said the case would remain on the trial calendar unless an agreement was reached. If an agreement were to be reached they were to schedule a hearing time on Monday for Runnerstrom to enter a plea.
At that hearing, Schiek revealed that state crime lab tests on a chair leg and piece of wood the state suspected Runnerstrom may have used to beat the dog did not reveal any blood.
According to the criminal complaint, Runnerstrom was arrested after a person callled 9-1-1 to report that a dog had been killed.
The caller identified Runnerstrom by name as the person who told her the dog was dead.
Because Runnerstrom had two outstanding arrest warrants in Oneida County and one in Langlade County, several members of the Oneida County Sheriff's Department, Rhinelander Police Department and two troopers from the State Patrol arrived on the scene.
After setting up a perimeter, several deputies approached the residence and could hear male and female voices yelling along with other sounds, according to the report of one of the deputies who responded to the scene. After officers gained entrance to the premises, Runnerstrom and a woman inside were taken into custody.
The woman told deputies that Runnerstrom had told her the dog had gotten into some bleach, but the animal could not be located in or near the house.
While searching the property, deputies found a plastic garbage bag that contained the dog, still alive. It was taken to a veterinarian in Rhinelander where it later died.
The vet told deputies the dog had a fractured skull and bruising underneath its belly.
Before Monday's hearing, Burns passed out copies of the vet's report to members of the media and noted Runnerstrom denies giving bleach to the animal, as alleged in the criminal complaint.
At Monday's plea hearing, Schiek outlined the agreement, which would have Runnerstrom plead guilty or no contest to mistreatment of an animal causing death.
The other two counts and the traffic case would be dismissed. He requested a pre-sentence investigation and said his sentencing recommendation would be limited to what the author of the resulting report recommends.
After entering a no contest plea, Bloom ruled that Runnerstrom had freely, knowingly and intelligently entered the plea and found him guilty. He ordered the pre-sentence investigation and set a sentencing for May 2.
The maximum penalty Runnerstrom faces is 18 months in prison, two years of extended supervision and a fine of up to $10,000.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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