Federal Criminal Complaint Filed Against Two Escapees

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that a one-count criminal complaint was filed today in U.S. District Court in Madison against James Newman, 28, and James Misleveck, 18, escapees from the Black River Falls Correctional Center. The complaint charges them with unlawfully possessing a shotgun as convicted felons. If convicted, they are subject to maximum penalties of 10 years in federal prison.

U.S. Attorney Vaudreuil stated, “The filing of this charge, and the quick and safe arrest in Florida, is exactly the type of cooperation between federal, state, and local law enforcement across the country that is needed to stop violent criminals.”

Jackson County District Attorney Gerald Fox stated, “I’m very thankful for the successful cooperation between local, state, and federal authorities, and my office will be filing additional criminal charges.”

The charge against Newman and Misleveck is the result of an extensive investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation; Jackson County Sheriff’s Department; Tomah Police Department; Sparta Police Department; Juneau County Sheriff’s Department; Monroe County Sheriff’s Department; Wisconsin State Patrol; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; and Broward County (Florida) Sheriff’s Department. The prosecution of this case has been assigned to Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.

A charge is merely an accusation, and the defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.