SHELL LAKE -- A Spooner, WI man has entered a plea of no contest to charges of Felony Burglary in Washburn County Circuit Court.

According to online circuit court records, Jonah Blake, of Spooner, WI, appeared in Washburn County Circuit Court on September 28, 2017, and entered a plea of no contest to his charge of Burglary stemming from the break-in and burglary of the Spooner I Play store in April of 2017.

Charges were filed against Blake following an investigation by the Spooner Police Department into the break-in and burglary of the Spooner, WI I Play Store on April 10, 2017. Multiple interviews with witnesses and review of surveillance footage led to the arrest of both Blake and Dakota Gates as suspects in the burglary.

DrydenWire.com reported on this story on April 17, 2017, after first breaking the story on April 10, 2017, when a burglary was reported at the I Play 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. 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.

Online circuit court records indicate that Blake appeared in Washburn County Circuit Court on September 28, 2017, and entered a plea of no contest to his charge of Class F Felony Burglary of a Building. Two other charges filed against Blake in the same criminal case for Misdemeanor Theft of Movable Property and Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property were dismissed but read in by the Court for consideration in his sentencing. Blake also entered a plea of no contest in a separate case to a charge of Misdemeanor Criminal Trespass to Dwelling. The details of that case are not known to DrydenWire.com at this time.

Blake is scheduled to be sentenced on his convictions in December 2017.

Dakota Gates is still facing charges of Class F Felony Burglary of a Building, Misdemeanor Theft of Movable Property and Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property. Two additional criminal cases have been filed against Gates in Washburn County Circuit Court, charging him with Class H Felony Bail Jumping and Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct and Class H Felony By Prisoners. Details of these cases are not known to DrydenWire.com at this time.

Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

**Previous Post**

2 Men Charged with Burglary of Spooner I Play Store Remain in Custody

Friday, June 2, 2017 | by Ben Dryden

(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.

**Original Post***

Burglary Reported of I Play; Downtown Spooner Business

Monday, April 17, 2017 | DrydenWire

***UPDATE 3*** The Spooner Police Department has notified DrydenWire that a second person, a 19-year-old Spooner area male, has been taken into custody involving the recent burglary of a Spooner Business.

DrydenWire.com will continue to update the community on this situation when any significant activity or progress develops.

***UPDATE 2*** The following is a press release from the Spooner Police Department today, April 13, 2017.

As an update to April 10, 2017, burglary, one suspect has been taken into custody. This suspect is a 20-year-old Spooner resident. In addition to the arrest, a number of stolen items have been recovered. This investigation still continues at this time. Further information will be released upon completion of the investigation.

Per SPD Chief Jerry Christman

***UPDATE 1*** The following is a press release from the Spooner Police Department:

On April 10, 2017, the Spooner Police Department responded to a reported commercial burglary at 111 Elm St. Officers found that suspect(s) had made forced entry into the building. Various items were taken during this incident and the investigation is continuing at the time of this news release. Further information will be released upon completion of the investigation.

Per SPD Chief Jerry Christman

SPOONER, Wis. -- A local business was broken into between 8 p.m. Sunday night and 6:45 a.m this morning, according to the owner of the local business.

Sam Smith, Owner of i play & Quarters Arcade, located at 111 Elm Street just off the main strip in downtown Spooner, WI, said that they broke 2 doors and a display case and "stole quite a bit."

Included items that were stolen were games, electronics, jewelry and video game accessories along with other miscellaneous items, and they also broke a locked display case.

At 6:45 a.m. this morning, Monday, April 10, 2017, a local citizen noticed the buildings front door smashed and called the police.

Smith said the Spooner Police Department is investigating the break-in and believes that they have a few leads.

Smith said he has the front door boarded and plans to be open tomorrow for normal business hours: 10-6 through Thursday, and 10-8 Friday and Saturday.

"I want to thank Joe with Super Hero Sanctum, Andy with What the Deck, Rob with Northwest Satellite, Dave, and RJ for helping to clean up and get us back open, and the Spooner Police Department for helping during this process," said Smith. "While it is unfortunate that this happened in our community, our family is happy to be apart of Spooner and we are looking forward to our continued connection to the community as a local business."