News Coverage of Cases Handled by John Schiro

Alleged Capitol Protester Attacker Headed for Trial

Attorney Schiro is defending a Green Bay man accused of punching a protester at the Capitol, Read the Article Here

Locksmith Who Posted Phony Ads Gets Probation for Identity Theft

By: George Hesselberg

Wisconsin State Journal

Madison - April 26, 2011 - Joshua Burlin, who placed phony ads on Craigslist and phone reviews on the Internet to interrupt competitors' locksmith businesses, then lied about it to investigators, was sentenced Tuesday to two years probation by Dane County Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara.

Burlin, 26, was convicted of identify theft and making false statements under oath, both felonies. His probation was moved to California, where he now resides.

Assistant Attorney General Eric D. Defort had argued that Burlin should get some jail time, a recommendation included in the plea agreement.

Burlin had been charged with five counts of false swearing and one count of identify theft and faced maximum penalties of a $10,000.00 fine and six years in prison for each count. As part of his plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to two counts, and the four others were dismissed, but considered in sentencing.

Burlin's business practices in the Madison area - including phony addresses to attract lockout victims to expensive emergency service and false names to file negative comments about competitors - were detailed in Wisconsin State Journal articles two years ago. Burlin, running Madison Locksmith with Shachar Elhara, said then that the method of operating - using numerous different names and addresses and telephone numbers for essentially one business - was a proven marketing strategy success.

David Koenig, whose business, Capital Lock, was targeted by Burlin via Craigslist and Internet reviews, said he was disappointed in the sentence Burlin received.

"It sends exactly the wrong message. He needed jail time to send a clear message, at least for Wisconsin, that we don't want these kinds of criminal business practices here," he said.

The business partners are named in a separate civil lawsuit, also brought by the State Justice Department, alleging they violated consumer protection laws by advertising phony business addresses, posting fraudulent online comments and telling customers they needed expensive lock replacements instead of repairs. The next court date for that case is May 24.

Charges Filed Against Madison Locksmith

By: Chris Woodard of NBC 15

Wisconsin State Journal

Madison - Thursday, September 9, 2010 - A local locksmith appears in court facing six felony charges and an NBC 15 investigation helps put him there. State investigators say Joshua Burlin lied under oath about his allegedly shady business practices. In March of 2009 we confronted Joshua Burlin. We had a lot of questions about allegations he and his business, Madison Locksmith, LLC, deceived and overcharged customers, operated under several names, posted phony addresses for his businesses online and posted fake positive reviews for his business and negative reviews for other businesses. When it came to those phony addresses Burlin was very clear. This, he said, was just good business.

Back then he told us, "This is something new. It's called points of service because we offer a mobile service not to confuse customers that they see a locksmith shop is over here on Park Street, one is on Regent Street. How are they going to know who's the closest and who can give a fast response?"

We asked if it bothers him to be telling people he has a business location that doesn't exist.

He says, "No, we don't tell them we have a location. It's point of service."

We pointed out there are addresses listed that are actually other people's businesses.

He said, "You know it's intersections and it's, you know, basically these are what we call points of service."

When investigators began looking into Burlin's business practices he told them a very different story, flatly denying under oath that he had ever listed false addresses even though investigators reminded him that's not what he told us. That discrepancy landed a far different looking Burlin in court today facing five felony counts of lying under oath and one felony count of identity theft for allegedly posting a craigslist ad stating a competitors business was for sale. One competing locksmith says the whole industry is glad to see Burlin facing charges. Owner of The Locksmiths David Hornung says, "When you lose 30-40 percent of your business to someone who is out there ripping the public off and lying in articles that are written about your company that you can't change it hurts."

Since we last heard from Burlin he's moved his business to a shop on East Johnson. There is also a new name over the door, Mad City Locksmith. Burlin also told the court he moved to San Diego but his lawyer confirms Madison Locksmith LLC is still in business in the Madison area and Burlin is still involved. Each of the felony counts is punishable by up to a 10-thousand dollar fine and 10 years in prison. Investigators also filed a civil case against Burlin and his business partner alleging they deceived customers so they could charge higher prices.

Woman Given Probation in Madison Kieffer Death

By: Tom Kertscher of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin State Journal

Milwaukee, WI - August 6, 2010 - Brittany Blue, who was the source of one of the prescription drugs that killed 15-year-old Madison Kiefer of Whitefish Bay, was sentenced Friday to three years of probation.

The 19-year-old Glendale woman was sentenced by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Borowski.

Several days before Kiefer's death on March 1, 2009, Blue met Matthew Laughrin, a 23-year-old Whitefish Bay man with a long history of drug abuse.

Blue told authorities she gave Laughrin six or seven of her Suboxone pills. Suboxone, a relatively new drug, is prescribed to people addicted to opiates such as heroin or certain prescription painkillers. Laughrin in turn gave Kiefer, who also had a history of drug abuse, a Suboxone pill. She had come to his home to buy drugs. Kiefer was pronounced dead the next morning, shortly after Laughrin and his father, Richard Laughrin, dropped her outside of the Whitefish Bay home of one of Kiefer's friends. The combination of Suboxone and Klonopin, a prescription drug for seizures and panic attacks that Kiefer had taken before the Suboxone, killed her, according to the medical examiner.

Matthew Laughrin was sentenced to 12 years in prison for second-degree reckless homicide and two other crimes. Richard Laughrin, 60, of Shorewood was sentenced to two years in prison for child abandonment.

Man Pleads to Child Abuse Case

LaCrosse, WI - July 21, 2010 - A town of Greenfield man who authorities said caused what could be permanent brain damage to his infant son was placed on three years of probation Tuesday.

Matthew Lessard, 29, entered an Alford plea in La Crosse County Circuit Court to a reduced charge of physical abuse of a child. The plea means he admits no wrongdoing but concedes a jury likely would find him guilty.

Attorneys agreed to ask for probation because Lessard cooperated with Children In Need of Protection conditions and has been reunited with the child.

Lessard, who did not address the judge before sentencing, faced a maximum of three years in prison and three years on extended supervision.

"I have good faith you're going to complete probation without having to come back and see me," said Circuit Judge Todd Bjerke, who also imposed 50 hours of community service.

Lessard told authorities he squeezed his son "pretty hard" when he discovered the child was not breathing Feb. 20, 2008, according to the complaint. Lessard attempted CPR and tried to wake the child with water before calling 911.

Doctors found serious head injuries, bleeding within the skull and bruising on the chest and buttocks consistent with being shaken, the complaint stated.

Defense attorney John Schiro said the child continues to have "significant medical problems."

"Above all, I wish (the victim) a good life and a recovery from any injuries he sustained," Assistant District Attorney Tania Bonnett said.

Cascade Man Acquitted in Dog Hanging

By: Eric Litke of Sheboygan County Press

Sheboygan, WI - July 3, 2010 - A jury deliberated less than two hours Friday before finding James DeGroff not guilty of hanging a dog on a park swing a year and a half ago.

The verdict - handed down by the jury of nine woman and three men - concluded a four day trial in which the prosecution attempted to prove an admittedly circumstantial case. DeGroff's DNA was found on the dog's collar and the owner immediately fingered him as a suspect, but a nine-month investigation yielded no direct evidence tying DeGroff to the crime.

"Not only was (DeGroff) not guilty, he was innocent," defense attorney John Schiro said alleging the investigation focused exclusively on DeGroff because of the owner's claim. "Unfortunately as a result of this investigation, the person who killed this dog is going to get away with it … You cannot search for the truth if you're going to decide at the beginning of the investigation who did it and then seek to prove that.."

Schiro capped his case with a theatrical closing that ranged from mocking the deputy who investigated the case to sarcastically praising DeGroff's ability to commit the crime while texting.

DeGroff, 21, of Cascade, was charged last July with felony mistreatment of animals causing death after the dog was found hanging from a swing at Cascade Memorial Park on November 4, 2008. The dog had been taken when its owner, Jacob Odekirk, let it out the night before.

Schiro said at trial that DeGroff's DNA was on the collar because he stayed overnight at Odekirk's house for several weeks leading up to the dog's disappearance. He noted that DNA from two other people was found on the collar, but Deputy Barry Nelson of the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Department never compared the DNA to the state database or collected samples from other witnesses.

Schiro spent the majority of his closing attacking Nelson, at one point playing the part of Nelson in a hypothetical case investigation intended to show the jury how he believed the investigation should have been handled.

Phone records show DeGroff was sending constant texts - leaving gaps of no more than four minutes between them - around the time of the disappearance, Schiro said. Addressing the point in his closing, Schiro sarcastically said DeGroff must have been a "remarkable man" to kidnap and hang a dog while texting and running the mile between his house and Odekirk's.

"The great DeGroff is performing his miracles!" Schiro yelled, finishing with his arms raised in the air.

Assistant District Attorney Joel Urmanski said he hoped the totality of evidence would yield a guilty verdict. His case was built around two witnesses who said they heard DeGroff reference the crime but couldn't remember when and DeGroff's inconsistent statements to Nelson about his activities and whereabouts the night the dog was killed.

"Obviously, I'm very disappointed, but at the same rate I understand the case was very difficult, especially because witnesses' recollections were very foggy," Urmanski said. "But putting them all together and combing that with the fact that the defendant and the defendant's girlfriend gave very inconsistent statements trying to establish what the defendant was doing and where he was - which turned out not to be accurate - I was hoping that would be enough."

Urmanski also defended the work of Nelson, who he called an "excellent deputy."

"I look forward to his cases and I'd love to take any of his cases to trial," Urmanski said.

Man Cleared in Hanging of Dog

By: Associated Press in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Sheboygan, WI - July 3, 2010 - A jury has cleared a 21-year-old Sheboygan County man who was accused after a dog was found hanged by its collar on a park swing. The jury deliberated less than two hours Friday before clearing James DeGroff of Cascade. The evidence was circumstantial. DeGroff's DNA was found on the dog's collar but a nine-month investigation yielded no direct evidence tying him to the crime.

Defense attorney John Schiro says it's unfortunate the real killer hasn't been brought to justice. Schiro says his client's DNA was on the collar because he had stayed overnight at the dog's owner house. He says authorities failed to investigate two other DNA samples on the collar.

Assistant district attorney Joel Urmanski tells The Sheboygan Press he's disappointed by the verdict.

Theft Charge Against Grocer Nehring Dropped

By: Mike Johnson of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Waukesha- A criminal charge that accused John E. Nehring of selling stolen produce in his upscale V. Richards Market in Brookfield was dismissed today.

Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney Sue Opper said she could not proceed with the case against Nehring because a delivery driver who is suspected of stealing the produce and selling it to him could not be located to testify at a preliminary hearing today.

As a result, the single count of receiving stolen property that had been filed against Nehring in July was dropped. The charge could be refiled if the delivery driver is located, Opper said.

Opper said sheriff's deputies tried to locate the driver over the weekend to serve him with a subpoena ordering him to appear in court but could not locate him at two addresses that he had earlier provided.

Nehring's produce manager, Angel Vasquez, 28, of Milwaukee, also was charged with one count of receiving stolen property. After he failed to appear in court in August, a warrant was issued for his arrest.

There are unsubstantiated rumors that Vasquez may have fled to Mexico, Opper said.

Opper said the charge against Nehring also could be refiled if Vasquez is located.

Nehring's attorney, John S. Schiro, said he expected all along that the charge against his client would be dismissed. He said the charge was based on the statement of the truck driver, who is a registered sex offender.

"This is what happens when you try to besmirch the name of an honest, reputable businessman with a crack using sex offender criminal, which is what the state based its case on," Schiro said. "That he didn't show isn't surprising to anybody who would look at his background. … If they find him or not, no one will ever believe one word this man says. John remained innocent and always has been."

According to the criminal complaint, Nehring and Vasquez paid $1,500 cash to the delivery driver for stolen cases of pineapple and peaches and boxes of Gala apples last summer. The stolen produce included 70 cases of pineapples, 102 cases of peaches and 42 boxes of Gala apples, which in total were valued at $2,883.

The delivery driver, who has not been charged, worked for the Milwaukee-based Tropic Banana Co. An employee of the N. Van Buren St. business confronted Nehring and Vasquez on Aug. 29 regarding the stolen produce, and the employee told police that Nehring and Vasquez admitted to paying a driver for the produce, according to the criminal complaint.

Nehring bought V. Richards in 2002. He also owns a Sendik's store in Shorewood and G. Groppi Food Market in Milwaukee's Bay View neighborhood.