Wisconsin warden, 8 staff members charged following probes into inmate deaths

The warden of a maximum security prison in Wisconsin and eight members of his staff were charged Wednesday following investigations into the case. deaths of four inmates last yearincluding one that was only discovered at least 12 hours after the man’s death.

Waupun Correctional Institution warden Randall Hepp is accused of misconduct in public office. The other eight face charges of inmate abuse, which is a felony, and three of them — two correctional officers and a corrections sergeant — are also accused of misconduct in public office. All nine appeared in court on Wednesday.

“We are operating the oldest prison in the state of Wisconsin in a dangerous and reckless manner,” said Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt, who led the investigation, at a news conference announcing the charges.

An inmate whose death was ruled a homicide had his water turned off for a significant period of time, was not closely monitored despite refusing to eat, and did not have direct contact with a doctor because he was in restrictive housing, Schmidt said. Another inmate who had a stroke lay dead in his cell for at least 12 hours before he was found.

Hepp, who faces up to 3 1/2 years in prison if convicted, announced last week that he planned to retire at the end of June and that Deputy Director Brad Mlodzik would take over the role. He said in an email to Waupun staff that he helped improve “security and order” at the prison.

“It’s amazing how far we’ve come,” Hepp wrote. “We also know we have more to do.”

Three of the four deaths are subject to federal lawsuits, the state Department of Corrections is investigating prison operations and the governor last year asked the U.S. Department of Justice to get involved.

Jared Hoy, who heads the Department of Corrections, said in a statement that more than 20 people remain under internal investigation, at least eight are on administrative leave and nine others have been fired or retired since the investigation began a year ago.

Given the ongoing investigation, Hoy asked the sheriff to keep its investigation open and share all of its findings to date “as quickly as possible and without further delay.”

Schmidt said he could reopen the investigation into more criminal charges if the state’s internal investigation turns up additional evidence.

The first of the four inmates who died, Dean Hoffman, committed suicide in solitary confinement last June. Hoffman’s daughter filed a federal lawsuit in February, alleging that prison authorities failed to provide her father with adequate mental health care and medication.

Tyshun Lemons and Cameron Williams were found dead at the facility in October. Dodge County Coroner PJ Schoebel said Lemons overdosed on acetyl fentanyl, a powerful opioid painkiller, and Williams died of a stroke.

Donald Maier was found dead in prison in February. Schmidt said his death was ruled a homicide due to malnutrition and dehydration.

Waupun’s problems don’t stop there. Gov. Tony Evers’ office said in March that federal investigators were looking into suspected contraband involving prison staff.

Evers said Wednesday, in reaction to the charges filed, that anyone who doesn’t do their job will be held accountable.

“There must be accountability and justice,” Evers said in a statement. “And I believe accountability and justice insist that both internal and law enforcement investigations must continue until they have been thoroughly and completely completed.”

The state Department of Corrections imposed a lockdown at Waupun and prisons in Green Bay and Stanley last year due to a shortage of guards. Waupun inmates filed a federal lawsuit in October, alleging the conditions constituted cruel and unusual punishment. This process is still pending.

Schmidt said he doesn’t believe the lockdown had anything to do with the inmates’ deaths.

Stanley resumed normal operations in November. Movement restrictions eased in Waupun and Green Bay, but as of the department’s last update in April, in-person visitation had not resumed in Waupun and recreation time was still limited. However, prisoners were allowed to make calls and send text messages using electronic tablets.

Waupun is one of five maximum security prisons in Wisconsin. The facility, built in the 1850s, housed 712 inmates as of May 31, according to the state Department of Corrections’ latest population report. The prison was designed to accommodate 882 inmates.

Republican state lawmakers used the filing of charges to renew their calls for Evers to close the Waupun and Green Bay prisons, which were also built in the 19th century.

“The warden may have been arrested, but the buck doesn’t stop there,” said state Sen. Van Wanggaard, who chairs the Senate committee that oversees the state prison system. “Tony Evers can no longer keep his head in the sand.”