RUSK COUNTY -- The Court has sentenced Doug Nitek, the man convicted of the homicide of Rusk County Sheriff’s Deputy Dan Glaze, to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Nitek was found Guilty by a Jury on September 25, 2018 in the death of Deputy Dan Glaze.
The Court has ordered Nitek to serve a lifetime sentence on his conviction of Class A Felony 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide with Use of Dangerous Weapon, with no eligibility for release to extended supervision.
Regarding Nitek’s conviction of Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, the Court ordered a sentence of 3 years and 6 months, with 1 year and 6 months of initial confinement in State Prison to be followed by 2 years of extended supervision to be served consecutively to his life sentence.
The Court ordered a sentence of 5 years on Nitek’s conviction of Class I Felony Criminal Damage to Property (over $2500). Nitek is to serve 3 years of initial confinement followed by 2 years of extended supervision concurrently with his life sentence.
For Nitek’s conviction of Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property, the Court ordered a sentence of 9 months confinement in jail. On Nitek’s conviction of Misdemeanor Possession of THC (Marijuana), the Court ordered a sentence of 6 months confinement in jail. The Court also ordered a conviction of 30 days confinement in county jail on Nitek’s conviction of Misdemeanor Possess Drug Paraphernalia. These sentences are all to be served concurrently with Nitek’s life sentence.
The charges against Nitek stemmed from an incident that occurred on October 29, 2016 when Deputy Glaze responded to a suspicious vehicle call. Dispatch lost contact with Deputy Glaze and when backup deputies arrived minutes later, they discovered Deputy Glaze deceased from a gunshot, according to a press release from the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office on October 30, 2016. Numerous law enforcement agencies responded to the situation and faced continued gunfire coming from the area where Nitek’s trailer was located. Nitek was ultimately apprehended and law enforcement conducted a search of the area including Niteks’ vehicle and a trailer which appeared to be his residence.
Bullet fragments were recovered from the scene and analyzed by the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory; the results of those tests confirmed that the bullets were a match to a rifle identified as belonging to Nitek.
A criminal complaint was filed on January 31, 2017, with 31 criminal charges against Nitek, including 1st Degree Intentional Homicide, along with 2 counts of Attempted 1st Degree Intentional Homicide against two more deputies who were on scene during that incident. Additionally, Nitek is charged with 17 Counts of 1st Degree Reckless Endangering Safety While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon for his actions against other officers who assisted during the situation. Nitek was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Damage to Property While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon, and Felony Bail Jumping While Armed with a Dangerous Weapon.
Numerous hearings were held on the case, and it was reassigned to two different judges before a trial was held at the Dunn County Courthouse with a Jury selected from Rusk County.
The trial began on September 18, 2018 and over the next several days, the jurors heard testimony from numerous witnesses; officers who responded to the incident, family members of Deputy Glaze, and experts from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab. During the course of the trial, various charges filed against Nitek were dismissed based on Motions filed by Nitek’s defense counsel including Class G Felony Possess Firearm-Convicted of a Felony, eight counts of Class F Felony 1st-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety with Use of Dangerous Weapon, and five counts of Class H Felony Bail Jumping.
Online circuit court records show that Nitek was found guilty by Jury of the following:
- Class A Felony 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide with Use of Dangerous Weapon,
- Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine,
- Misdemeanor Possession of THC (Marijuana),
- Misdemeanor Possess Drug Paraphernalia,
- Class I Felony Criminal Damage to Property (over $2,500) with Use of Dangerous Weapon,
- Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property with Use of Dangerous Weapon.
Nitek was acquitted by the Jury of two counts of Class B Felony Attempted 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide with Use of Dangerous Weapon, and nine counts of Class F Felony 1st-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety with Use of Dangerous Weapon.
The Court heard statements from several people including family members of Deputy Glaze, and requested that the Court sentence Nitek to life in prison without the possibility of early release.
The State gave a lengthy statement to the Court and called for the Court to impose the harshest sentence possible on Nitek, stating that Nitek is a danger to the public and that he must be incarcerated for a lengthy term to protect the public.
Nitek chose to exercise his right of allocution, stating to the Court that he fired the shots at Deputy Glaze and that he is sorry for it.
Defense counsel for Nitek spoke to the Court, reiterating Nitek’s need for rehabilitation and emphasizing the support that Nitek’s family has provided to him and will continue to provide to him throughout his prison sentence.
Last Update: Dec 20, 2018 8:32 am CST
