(L-R: Jonah Blake & Dakota Gates)
SHELL LAKE, Wis. -- Jonah Blake and Dakota Gates, both of Spooner, WI, appeared this week in Washburn County Circuit Court for their felony charges stemming from the burglary of the IPlay store in Spooner, WI and were both remanded to the custody of the Washburn County Sheriff's Office following their hearings.
DrydenWire.com reported on this story on April 21, 2017, after first breaking the story on April 10, 2017, when a burglary was reported at the IPlay store located at 111 Elm Street, Spooner, WI. At that time Spooner Police Department received a call that the glass entrance door to that building had been smashed in.
The subsequent investigation led officers to Gates and Blake as the suspects. According to the criminal complaint during the investigation, Spooner Police Officers retrieved multiple items from Gate's residence which were identified as some of the items missing from the IPlay store after the burglary.
Gates reportedly stated to officers that he had taken some pills the night of the burglary and could not remember what had happened. Blake allegedly admitted being with Gates and going to the IPlay store with Gates, however, denied any involvement in the burglary.
According to public record, Gates appeared in Washburn County Circuit Court on May 30, 2017, regarding his charges. Gates waived his right to a preliminary examination hearing and the Court found probable cause for his case to continue in criminal court. Gates was then remanded to the custody of the Sheriff. Gates is scheduled to appear again on June 12, 2017.
Public record also shows that a preliminary examination hearing was held this week in Washburn County Circuit Court on Blake's case. The court heard testimony from a Spooner Police officer regarding the charges filed against Blake. After arguments were made by both the State and Blake's defense attorney, the Court found probable cause for the case to move forward. Blake entered a not guilty plea to all counts, and also entered a request for substitution of judge on his case. Blake was then remanded to the custody of the Sheriff. Once a new judge is assigned to Blake's case, another hearing will be scheduled in front of that judge.
An additional charge of Class A Misdemeanor Criminal Trespass to Dwelling was filed against Blake on May 1, 2017, in Washburn County Circuit Court in a separate case stemming from an offense date of April 14, 2017. The details of that case are not known at this time.
***Previous Post***
Charges Filed for Alleged Burglary of Spooner Business
Friday, April 21, 2017 | by Ben Dryden
Charges of Felony Burglary, Theft, and Criminal Damage to Property have been filed in Washburn County Circuit Court against 2 Spooner men for the recent burglary at the IPlay store in Spooner, WI.
DrydenWire.com 1st broke the story Monday night, April 10th, 2017.
According to the criminal complaint obtained and reviewed by DrydenWire.com, two men from Spooner, WI, Jonah Blake and Dakota Gates were identified as the individuals who broke into the IPlay Store in Spooner, WI between the hours of 8:00 PM April 9, 2017, and 6:45 AM April 10, 2017. Spooner Police Department was dispatched on a report of Criminal Damage to Property at the IPlay store after someone saw that the glass entrance door to the building located at 111 Elm Street, Spooner, WI had been smashed.
Officers who arrived on scene found that the inner entrance door to the IPlay store also had the glass window smashed out and the door had been opened. A glass wall display case was also smashed. The owner of the IPlay store arrived on scene along with another business owner who rents space in the building at 111 Elm Street.
The criminal complaint continues stating that officers had the owner of IPlay take an assessment of items missing which included jewelry, gaming systems, laptop computers, and small storage containers. The safe in the store had not been disturbed and the store's cash was still in the safe.
Spooner Police Department initiated an investigation, requesting any possible surveillance footage from surrounding businesses and banks. The owner of IPlay advised officers that Dakota Gates had been in the IPlay store on Friday, April 7, 2017, and had shown an interest in some of the items that were now missing.
Officers were dispatched later that same morning to Sather Jewelry in Spooner, WI after a report was called in that Dakota Gates and another man had stopped there to attempt to pawn some jewelry. The criminal complaint states that after being told the jewelry was 'costume jewelry' and therefore of no value to Sather's, Gates and the other man left.
When officers initially interviewed Dakota Gates he stated that Jonah Blake and another man had brought some items to his home to sell them to him, including jewelry and a damaged PS2 gaming system. Officers collected the items and later had the owner of the IPlay store review them, who stated that he recognized some of the jewelry, however, the more expensive items of jewelry that were missing from his store were not among those recovered.
Later that day, officers returned to Gates' home who at that time gave consent for officers to search his residence. The criminal complaint goes on to state that while officers were there, Gates provided them with gaming controllers wrapped in gray Walmart bags and video games that he stated had been left with him by Blake. A small storage container was also retrieved from Gates' residence.
The owner of IPlay identified the items retrieved from Gates' residence as matching some of the items missing from his store. Spooner Police Department also received follow-up from a bank near the IPlay store regarding surveillance footage that showed two individuals in the area of IPlay on April 9, 2017, during the time of the burglary. After reviewing the video surveillance footage officers identified the two individuals as Dakota Gates and Jonah Blake.
On April 11, 2017, Gates reportedly requested to speak to officers from Spooner Police Department and stated to them that he had taken some pills with Jonah Blake on April 9, 2017, in the evening and that he doesn't really remember what happened after that.
Spooner Police Department learned on April 15, 2017, that Jonah Blake had been taken into custody on an unrelated incident and they went to the Washburn County Jail to interview Blake. The criminal complaint states that after Blake was advised that officers had video surveillance footage placing him at the IPlay store at the time of the burglary, he provided a statement to officers that he had gone with Gates to the IPlay store around 9:00 PM on April 9 and that Gates had broken the door in and gone inside.
Charges of Class F Felony Burglary, Class A Misdemeanor Theft, and Class A Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property have been filed against both Blake and Gates. According to public record, Gates appeared for a bail bond hearing on April 12 and has been placed under conditions of a $1,000 signature bail bond. Blake appeared on April 17, 2017, for a bail bond hearing and has been placed under conditions of a $500 signature bail bond. Both men are to have no contact with the IPlay store or each other.
DrydenWire.com will continue to update the community on this situation when any significant activity or progress develops and reminds our readers that arrested or charged individuals are presumed innocent until convicted by judge or jury.
Last Update: Jun 02, 2017 8:02 am CDT
