Elroy Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Gun Crime

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that James Misleveck, 19, Elroy, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to 15 years in prison for unlawfully possessing a stolen shotgun as a convicted felon. Misleveck pleaded guilty to this offense on January 30, 2013.

On July 18, 2012, Misleveck and co-defendant James Newman escaped from the Black River Correctional Camp in Jackson County, Wisconsin. They stole a shotgun and then kidnapped a woman at gunpoint. After making the woman drive around with them for several hours, they released her, abandoned the shotgun, and stole another vehicle.

They subsequently fled to Florida and committed additional crimes during their spree. Misleveck was transferred back to Wisconsin in September 2012, and Newman is currently in transit back to Wisconsin.

Misleveck received a 15-year sentence because he has three qualifying violent felony convictions, which classifies him as an armed career criminal under federal law. Armed career criminals are subject to mandatory minimum 15-year sentences.

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