Circuit Court Report - Zarins found guilty of homicide
Circuit Court Report
The fate of Matthew J. Zarins, 51 of Athens, is in the hands of a pre-sentence investigation for the homicide death of Jennifer K. Johnson, 51 of Stanley.
Zarins was in court last week facing multiple charges stemming from a Jan. 11, 2023 structure fire in the town of Maplehurst. Zarins was injured but survived the fire, Johnson later died from her injuries.
Zarins was found guilty due to a guilty plea of charges of homicide by negligent handling of dangerous weapons/ explosives and guilty due to a guilty plea of maintaining a drug trafficking place. Charges of manufacturing/ deliver amphetamine (<=3 grams) - conspiracy to commit, possession of methamphetamine precursors, and knowingly possess methamphetamine waste were dismissed but read in for sentencing purposes.
Judge Ann Knox Bauer ordered a presentence Investigation by Department of Corrections to be completed by April 15, 2024. A sentencing hearing was set for April 18 at 9:30 a.m.
On January 11, 2023, at 12:11 a.m. the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a structure fire with injuries located at N44 Clark Dr. in the Town of Maplehurst. Taylor County deputies along with fire and ambulance services were dispatched. Upon deputies’ arrival they found a homemade structure built from an old camper frame on fire.
Zarins was injured while escaping the structure and was burned along with other injuries. Johnson, also escaped the structure but was severely burned. Both parties were transported by ambulance for medical treatment.
Found guilty
Spencer Leu, 32, of Marshfield was found guilty due to a guilty plea of disorderly conduct - domestic abuse. Charges of battery - domestic abuse and bail jumpingmisdemeanor were dismissed but read in for sentencing. Court withheld sentence and places Leu on probation for 1 year. Conditions of probation are to pay the court costs, provide a DNA sample and pay the surcharge, pay the domestic abuse surcharge, attend AODA and follow through with any recommended treatment, attend domestic violence counseling at the discretion of the probation agent, and have no contact with the victim. In count 2 court withholds sentence and places Leu on probation for 1 year. Conditions of probation are to pay the court costs, provide a DNA sample and pay the surcharge, pay the domestic abuse surcharge, pay the $75 service and processing fees, and attend AODA and follow through with any treatment recommendations. All costs are to be paid directly to the Taylor County Clerk of Courts Office. This is to be added to his current plan and increased to $100 a month.
Kenneth Vesnefsky, 74, was found guilty due to a no contest plea of place, use, hunt wild animals with bait (<5 gallons) and was ordered to pay $343.50.
Plea agreements
Patrick Davis, 36, of Medford was found guilty due to a no contest plea for OWI (4th). Court ordered a withheld sentence and placed Davis on probation for 3 years. Conditions of probation are to pay the fine of $4,201, pay the blood draw fee of $33, 240 days of county jail with Huber privileges and good time, provide a DNA sample and pay the surcharge, three year driver’s license revocation with credit given for any administrative suspension and the understanding that the DOT may permanently revoke his driving privileges, ignition interlock device for 12 months, AODA and follow through with the driver safety plan, and attend the OWI victim impact panel on April 4, 2024. Davis will get 54 days of sentence credit in the event of a revocation. All costs are to be paid directly to the Taylor County Clerk of Courts office in the amount of $25 a month beginning March 1, 2024.
Veronica St. Germaine, 33, of Lac Du Flambeau, was found guilty of possession with the intent to deliver - amphetamine/ methamphetamine and bail jumping - felony. Charges of possess drug paraphernalia, bail jumping - felony and resisting or obstructing an officer, along with a traffic forfeiture of failure of operator to notify police of an accident were dismissed but read in for sentencing. Court orders a 6 year prison term to include 3 years initial confinement and 3 years extended supervision to run concurrent with each. Conditions of supervision include payment of court costs on each count, DNA sample and surcharge fee on each count, AODA and all follow through treatment and counseling as deemed necessary by the agent. Court costs and fees due $1,036. Defendant to commence making $25 monthly payments within 30 days from being released from prison. Sentence credit of 89 days granted.
Laura Berry, 47, of Sheldon was found guilty due to no contest plea for possession of drug paraphernalia as a party to a crime and possession of THC as a party to a crime as part of a plea agreement. Charges of possession of narcotic drugs and possession of methamphetamine were dismissed but read in for sentencing. Court orders a withheld sentence and places Berry on probation for 18 months. Conditions of probation are to pay the court costs on each count, submit a DNA sample and pay the surcharge on each count, attend AODA and follow through with any recommended treatment. There is one day of sentence credit in the event of a revocation. Costs total $901.
Charges dismissed
A charge of failure to maintain a holding/septic tank was dismissed against Larson Rentals LLC of Gilman.
