A Jury Trial has been scheduled in January of 2018 for a Spooner man charged with Class F Felony Burglary and Class A Misdemeanor Theft of Movable Property in Washburn County.
On March 14, 2017, DrydenWire.com reported that Michael Cox, of Spooner, WI, had been charged criminally in relation to a recent burglary. The criminal complaint filed against Cox states that on February 22, 2017 he had contact with Washburn County Sheriff's Deputies near private land. At that time, Cox allegedly told the deputies that he was seeking birch poles to cut and was trying to locate the landowners to request permission.
Deputies advised Cox that he would need a permit to complete any cutting of timber. The deputies saw a red Generac generator in the truck which Cox was driving and then followed the tracks left by Cox's truck. The generator was later identified as belonging to the landowner.
A press release was issued by the Washburn County Sheriff's Office on February 25, 2017, advising that they were seeking Cox in relation to the burglary complaint. Charges were filed on March 7, 2017 by the Washburn County District Attorney's Office.
Cox appeared in Washburn County Circuit Court on July 10, 2017 for a plea hearing. However, according to public record, instead of pleading to his charges, Cox told the Court that he wants a Jury Trial. A trial is now scheduled for January 30, 2017.
Public record shows that on March 15, 2017, a criminal complaint was filed in Polk County Circuit Court charging Cox with 3 counts of Class F Felony Burglary as well as 1 count of Class I Felony Theft of Movable Property.
Also, on April 26, 2017, 3 more criminal complaints were filed in Sawyer County Circuit Court against Cox, charging him with 1 count of Class A Misdemeanor Theft of Movable Property in each complaint.
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.
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Spooner Man Faces Felony Burglary Charges
Tuesday, March 14, 2017 | by Ben Dryden
Charges of Felony Burglary, a Class F Felony, and Misdemeanor Theft have been filed in Washburn County Circuit Court against Michael Cox of Spooner, WI.
The Washburn County Sheriff's Office issued a press release on February 25, 2017, stating that they were seeking Michael Cox in connection with a burglary investigation. On March 3, 2017, DrydenWire.com reported that the Sheriff's Office confirmed that Cox was in custody in relation to the same investigation.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Cox, a Washburn County Sheriff's Deputy had contact with Cox on February 22, 2017. During that contact, Cox told the deputy that he was looking for birch poles to cut and had been going to residences to ask landowners if he could cut birch on their land.
After the deputy advised Cox that he needed a permit in order to cut timber on private land for any reasons other than firewood, Cox told the deputy that he would obtain the proper permits right away.
The criminal complaint continues, stating that when Cox drove away, the deputy noticed that Cox had a red Generac generator in the box of the red Chevy truck that he was driving at the time.
The deputy followed the tracks left by Cox's truck, which showed that Cox had driven onto a property on Gardner Lake Road. The deputy found wet marks on the cement floor of the shed on the property, indicating that someone had just been there.
The deputy contacted the landowners who came to the property and confirmed that they did own a red Generac generator and that no one had permission to remove it from the property.
After Cox was located and placed under arrest, the criminal complaint states that he admitted to officers that he had taken the generator seen by the deputy in Cox's truck and he told officers where it could be found. The generator was located and retrieved.
The landowners were able to identify the generator as their own after viewing a picture of it.
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Washburn Co. Sheriff's Office Looking for Burglary Suspect
Saturday, February 25, 2017 | Washburn County Sheriff's Office
Press Release - Michael S. Cox is wanted by the Sheriff's Office in connection with a burglary last Thursday in Gull Lake Township. Cox's last known address is W7814 Keller Road, Township of Spooner, according to our arrest records. He is known to have associates in the Minong area. He was driving a Red Chevrolet Extended Cab Pick-up, that we believe was used in this burglary.
Mike should turn himself into the Washburn County Sheriff's Office, it is just a matter of time before apprehension. Anyone having information as to Cox's location or information please call the Washburn County Dispatch at 715-468-4720.
"Your eyes and ears frequently solve crimes and affect the arrests of those that commit crimes against your neighbor more often than not." -Sheriff Dryden
Last Update: Jul 11, 2017 4:57 pm CDT
