September 22, 2022 at 11:17 a.m.
Kampf sentenced to prison in overdose death case
Kampf sentenced to prison in overdose death case
Last week, just days before he was scheduled to stand trial, Kampf, 26, entered guilty pleas to first-degree reckless homicide/deliver drugs and possession of heroin (<= 3G) with intent to deliver.
Per the terms of a plea agreement, the state and defense presented a joint recommendation of three years in prison and two years supervision on the reckless homicide charge to be followed by three years in prison and four years extended supervision on the delivery charge.
Oneida County circuit judge Mike Bloom agreed to those terms with one notable change. He made it known that he does not believe Kampf is a suitable candidate for the earned release/substance abuse program.
The sentence was handed down following an emotional sentencing hearing that included statements from friends and family of Sarkauskas, who was described as a warm, supportive person whose charismatic personality lit up the world. She was engaged in a years-long struggle with addiction that began with a dependency on prescription drugs and eventually involved the use of heroin, they said.
According to the sentencing statements, and information contained in the criminal complaint, Sarkauskas had been sober for a long stretch of time prior to her death on Aug. 27, 2019 and had made it clear that she did not want to be contacted by previous associates involved in drugs.
"Shauna told the world she was in recovery and sober and no longer wanted to be in contact with all the people associated with her addiction," a close friend told the court in a sentencing statement. "She changed her phone number and removed herself from the social media platforms. Unfortunately, we live in an era that allows dealers to utilize the social/tech world to become an outlet to many," she explained.
As special prosecutor Cass Cousins explained, a SnapChat message from Kampf offering "boi", a street name for heroin, led to a fateful transaction and a fatal relapse.
"The prison of addiction closed in on her for the last time," as her friend put it, and she was found dead in her Newbold residence.
After speaking poignantly of Sarkauskas, the same friend exhorted Kampf to make something of his life in her memory. She also noted that she recently had a dream where Shauna asked her to "give him mercy."
"Dalton, be the example," she said. "You (will receive a) sentence today where Shauna took the life sentence. Be the one that alters the path of this story. Acknowledge that predator in you that comes alive when you are under the influence, own it and change it. Take these years to accept what is offered and get a strong hold on sobriety. Don't give up when things get hard and they will. Share your story and encourage others to take a different path..."
The court also heard two statements from family members who asked that Kampf be locked up for as long as possible.
"He has had the last three years, let alone a year and a half, to make this right and only did at the 11th hour," one of the family members noted.
In his statement, Cousins recounted the history of the case as well as Kampf's previous criminal history and stressed that the plea agreement was the result of extensive, thoughtful discussions. He indicated the state believes Kampf can be rehabilitated but prison is necessary.
"I think the length of time creates a structure that will enable rehabilitation to occur, along with the required punishment aspect, and not create a situation where this defendant is incarcerated for such a period of time that it becomes just a hopeless case," he said.
According to his attorney, Eric Sheets, Kampf has "rounded the corner" and is on a path toward a productive, law-abiding life.
Following Shauna's death, but before he was arrested, Kampf sought out and participated in in-patient treatment for substance use and mental health issues, his attorney noted. He also has a strong work history and was running his own business at the time of his arrest, Sheets added.
"Like many, he's a good person who made some bad decisions," Sheets said, adding that Kampf has a documented history of mental health issues dating back to approximately age 10.
In Sheets' estimation, his client's involvement in drugs was in large part an effort to self-medicate.
"I don't know if there is a proper sentence for this, but I think we found the best one for the situation we have here," he added.
Given his chance to speak, Kampf offered an apology.
"Your Honor, I'm very sorry for what brings us here today. I would like to let the court know as well as everyone in the room. My sincerest apologies for my actions involved in Shauna's passing...we were both friends and addicts, suffering from addiction, but I never expected my choices would lead us to where we are today. If I could take back the choices that I made, I would. If I could have taken her place, I would. I often wonder why it was her. I have plans to continue sobriety and be a positive member of society where I will never be in a position where this can happen again....I was not the best version of myself then... and I feel I owe it everyone, including myself, to live my life differently and to help others away from addiction."
Before pronouncing sentence, Bloom spoke candidly about the evolution of drug cases he has seen in his time working in the criminal justice system. In his early years as a public defender, most of the drug cases involved marijuana possession, he noted.
"I worked in Rhinelander as a staff attorney in the public defender's office between 1993 and 2002 and you never heard about heroin," he stated. "I was in court all the time for 9 years and never heard about heroin."
After five years in the private sector, Bloom moved to the Oneida County district attorney's office. During his time as a prosecutor, drug cases involving the possession of pills became more commonplace, he said.
"By the time I got into this job (as a judge), heroin was a problem," he added, noting that "certain narcotic prescription drugs became very prevalent in our society and a lot of people got a taste for it."
Eventually, after it became known that use of narcotics was resulting in dependency, the source of the prescription drugs was appropriately "pinched off by the powers that be," but that didn't put an end to it, the judge said.
"Then the heroin dealers came in and filled that void and here we are," he explained.
He agreed with the attorneys that prison is necessary in this case but there is reason to have hope that Kampf has indeed turned a corner and will be a productive citizen after serving his time.
As he has been in custody since early March 2021, he received credit for 558 days already served.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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