Woman Faces Charges Of Child Abduction, Vehicle Theft

SAWYER COUNTY -- Criminal charges have been filed against Kristine Doucette, of Winter, WI, after she allegedly stole a vehicle from the Hayward, WI Marketplace parking lot on December 27, 2019. There were 2 children, ages 5 and 3, inside the vehicle when it was taken, according to the criminal complaint filed against Doucette.

Shortly after 6p on December 27, 2019, the Hayward Police Department received information that a car had been stolen from the Marketplace parking lot. An Officer with the Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Police Department located the stolen vehicle on County Highway B, just past the intersection with County Highway K.

Law Enforcement contacted the mother of the children; she arrived at the scene a short time later and was reunited with her children. The younger child had been crying uncontrollably when Officers arrived. When an Officer spoke with the children at a later time, the older child said that they had been sleeping most of the time and awoke when they heard sirens.

The mother of the children told Law Enforcement that Doucette did not have permission to take her vehicle and there would not have been any reason for Doucette to believe that she had permission.

Doucette, age 54, is also charged with Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct, and Forfeiture Retail Theft in 2 separate court cases filed against her. The charges stem from reports that Law Enforcement was investigating in the City of Hayward just prior to receiving the call about the stolen car, according to the criminal complaint filed against Doucette and online circuit court records which confirm that the incidents also occurred on December 27, 2019.

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At a hearing on December 30, Doucette was placed on a $1,000 cash bail bond. She made initial appearances on all her charges on January 14, 2020 while in custody. Online circuit court records indicate that Doucette’s defense counsel raised concerns regarding Doucette’s competency during the hearing.

Doucette is scheduled to make another court appearance later in January 2020.

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.