Tag Archive for: Waukesha

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A Path of Evil and Carnage: Darrell Brooks Sentenced to Six Life Sentences Plus 762 Years

On November 16, 2022, Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow sentenced Waukesha WI parade attacker Darrell E. Brooks, Jr. to serve six consecutive life sentences without the possibility of extended supervised release/parole. These six life sentences were for 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide of six people who were marching in the parade.

Judge Dorow also imposed an additional 762 years for multiple counts of Intentional Homicide with modifier – Use of a Dangerous Weapon, 6 counts of Hit and Run-Involve Death, 2 counts of Bail Jumping-Felony, and 1 count of Battery/Domestic Abuse.

At his sentencing hearing, Brooks delivered a long-winded, circuitous, rambling, and convoluted statement where he, for over two hours, professed his devotion to God and his love for his children whom he doesn’t live with nor support. He professed respect for Erika Patterson, a former girlfriend, and mother of one of his children, who he abused physically and mentally, including running her over with the same SUV he used in the parade attack. He’s currently standing trial for that charge among others in another Wisconsin jurisdiction.

He professed respect for the court (what a laugh this was since he quite often disrupted the proceedings and berated the judge, calling her a joke and accusing her of treason). He professed respect for two members of the prosecution team, but expressed clear disdain and that he had no respect for District Attorney Sue Opper. He said she “wasn’t that bright.”

When speaking of and directly to DA Opper regarding her role the trial, Brooks said,

Screenshot of Brooks making the “Am I angry” statement toward DA Sue Opper

Brooks continued with numerous excuses for and reasons why he’s a career criminal—a bad childhood when his mother worked two or three jobs. That they lived in poverty and their apartment was infested with insects and rodents and that live bugs were often found in their morning cereal. He mentioned growing up without a father, standing with his mother in the “welfare line” to receive milk and cheese, and that he’d been bullied and made fun of and experienced mental health troubles throughout his life.

He told the court he needed help for mental illness and would like to be sent somewhere where he could receive it in the form of medication. His implication was to be sent somewhere other than prison.

For the first time since the parade attack, Brooks did finally mange to squeak out an apology for what happened at the parade but not for the fact that he was responsible for it. It was not an apology to the victims for what he did to them.

Comments made by Darrell Brooks during sentencing statement.

“Not only am I sorry for what happened, I’m sorry that you could not see what’s truly in my heart.”

“I apologize for not showing people what they wanted to see.”

“I have to look at my life going forward. Not looking backward. I have to look at reality.”

“I’ve moved past the day of the actual tragedy of the day of November 21, 2021, but I have not moved past uplifting this community in prayer and will continue to until it’s my time to pass on.”

“To clarify, so there’s no misconception, none of us can go back and change what happened. We can’t. But that doesn’t mean that my life has to be defined by that. I’ve moved past the actual day.”

“Regardless of how anyone feels I will continue to pray for them.”

“This was not an attack. It was NOT an attack.”

Brooks cried when speaking about his daughter not being able to talk to him when she wants to do so. No mention, though, of the parents and sibling of the 8-year-old boy he ran down and killed. No words for the other people he murdered and their family members who would never again be able to talk to their husband, wives, grandmothers, sisters, and aunts. No mention of the dozens of people who suffered brain injuries, compound fractures, loss of and damage to body organs, weeks-long comas, PTSD, nightmares, were dragged through the street by his vehicle, slammed by the SUV and sent flying 30-feet trough the air, landing on the pavement or curb.

His “speech,” as always, was all about “ME, ME, ME.”

Brooks cried when speaking about his children not being able to see and speak to him when they wanted, but no mention of the families of the people he killed

Brooks went back to the mental health issue several times. However, after cutting off Brooks once he’d begun repeating himself multiple times in what was likely a classic Brooks move to stall the inescapable, Judge Dorow read aloud portions of reports written by four mental health experts who examined Brooks and his case. Each of the four stated that while Brooks had a personality disorder, in no way did he suffer from mental defect. He, they said, knew right from wrong and that he clearly knew what he was doing at the time of the attack. Mental illness was not a contributing factor in his violent behaviors.

Judge Jennifer Dorow speaking to Brooks

“There are many times, many times when good people do bad things, but there are times when evil people do bad things. Some people, unfortunately, choose a path of evil, and I think, Mr. Brooks, you are of those such persons. Frankly, Mr. Brooks, no one is safe from you. This community can only be safe if you are behind bars for the rest of your life,” Dorow said.

Judge Dorow then outlined all the reasons behind the sentences she was about to impose., which was …

COUNT 1: 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide

Total length of the sentence is LIFE IMPRISONMENT; 360 Days Sentence Credit; Defendant is not eligible for release to extended supervision. TOTAL RESTITUTION: $47,193.29 to EMC Insurance Company on behalf of the School District of Waukesha and $124,220.65 to the Crime Victim Compensation Program; COURT COSTS: $268; DNA SURCHARGE: $250.

COUNTS 2-6: 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide

Total length of the sentence is LIFE IMPRISONMENT; 0 Days Sentence Credit; Consecutive to Count 1 and each other; Defendant is not eligible for release to extended supervision. COURT COSTS: $268, per count; DNA SURCHARGE: $250, per count.

COUNTS 7-67: 1st-Degree Intentional Homicide with modifier Use of a Dangerous Weapon

IMPOSED SENTENCE OF: 17.5 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT (Credit: 0 Days) 12.5 YEARS OF INITIAL CONFINEMENT 5 YEARS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION Consecutive to: To any other sentence and to each other; Defendant is not eligible for Challenge Incarceration Program. Defendant is not eligible for Substance Abuse Program. CONDITIONS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION: *No Contact with any victims listed in the Amended Victim Identification Key; *No Contact with Erika Patterson; COSTS: $268 per count; DNA SAMPLE AND SURCHARGE: $250 per count.

COUNT 68: Hit and Run-Involve Death

IMPOSED SENTENCE OF: 25 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT (Credit: 360 Days) 15 YEARS OF INITIAL CONFINEMENT 10 YEARS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION Concurrent to Count 1: Defendant is not eligible for Challenge Incarceration Program. Defendant is not eligible for Substance Abuse Program. CONDITIONS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION: *No Contact with any victims listed in the Amended Victim Identification Key; *No Contact with Erika Patterson; COSTS: $268; DNA SAMPLE AND SURCHARGE: $250.

COUNT 69: Hit and Run-Involve Death

IMPOSED SENTENCE OF: 25 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT (Credit: 0 Days) 15 YEARS OF INITIAL CONFINEMENT 10 YEARS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION Concurrent to Count 2: Defendant is not eligible for Challenge Incarceration Program. Defendant is not eligible for Substance Abuse Program. CONDITIONS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION: *Same as Count 68; COSTS: $268; DNA SAMPLE AND SURCHARGE: $250.

COUNT 70: Hit and Run-Involve Death

IMPOSED SENTENCE OF: 25 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT (Credit: 0 Days) 15 YEARS OF INITIAL CONFINEMENT 10 YEARS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION Concurrent to Count 3: Defendant is not eligible for Challenge Incarceration Program. Defendant is not eligible for Substance Abuse Program. CONDITIONS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION: *Same as Count 68; COSTS: $268; DNA SAMPLE AND SURCHARGE: $250.

COUNT 71: Hit and Run-Involve Death

IMPOSED SENTENCE OF: 25 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT (Credit: 0 Days) 15 YEARS OF INITIAL CONFINEMENT 10 YEARS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION Concurrent to Count 4: Defendant is not eligible for Challenge Incarceration Program. Defendant is not eligible for Substance Abuse Program. CONDITIONS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION: *Same as Count 68; COSTS: $268; DNA SAMPLE AND SURCHARGE: $250.

COUNT 72: Hit and Run-Involve Death

IMPOSED SENTENCE OF: 25 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT (Credit: 0 Days) 15 YEARS OF INITIAL CONFINEMENT 10 YEARS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION Concurrent to Count 5: Defendant is not eligible for Challenge Incarceration Program. Defendant is not eligible for Substance Abuse Program. CONDITIONS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION: *Same as Count 68; COSTS: $268; DNA SAMPLE AND SURCHARGE: $250.

COUNT 73: Hit and Run-Involve Death

IMPOSED SENTENCE OF: 25 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT (Credit: 0 Days) 15 YEARS OF INITIAL CONFINEMENT 10 YEARS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION Concurrent to Count 6; Defendant is not eligible for Challenge Incarceration Program. Defendant is not eligible for Substance Abuse Program. CONDITIONS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION: *Same as Count 68; COSTS: $268; DNA SAMPLE AND SURCHARGE: $250.

COUNTS 74-75: Bail Jumping-Felony

IMPOSED SENTENCE OF: 6 YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT (Credit: 0 Days) 3 YEARS OF INITIAL CONFINEMENT 3 YEARS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION Consecutive to all other counts, but concurrent to each other; Defendant is not eligible for Challenge Incarceration Program. Defendant is not eligible for Substance Abuse Program. CONDITIONS OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION: *No Contact with any victims, or their families, listed in the Amended Victim Identification Key; *No Contact with Erika Patterson; COSTS: $268 per count; DNA SAMPLE AND SURCHARGE: $250 per count.

*COUNT 76: Battery/Domestic Abuse 

JAIL: 9 Months; 0 Days Credit. Consecutive to any other sentence; Costs: $243; DV Surcharge: $100; DNA Sample and Surcharge: $200.

*Restitution to be paid before Costs/Surcharges/Fees. Restitution/Costs/Surcharges and Fees to be collected from prison monies pursuant to statutory provisions.

*Court finds an order for an escrow account is appropriate under 949.165 for payment of restitution and court costs/fees/surcharges, and even for costs associated with prior or future legal representation, etc. under the statute.

Body Armor, Felony warnings, voting rights, and firearms warnings given. (Judge Dorow informed Brooks that as a convicted felon he is not permitted to possess body armor or firearms, and may not vote unless his voting rights are restored).

Clerk provided the Defendant with Notice of Right to Pursue Postconviction Relief with the case number filled in, as well as the Voter Ineligibility Notice and Acknowledgment.

*COUNT 76: Battery/Domestic Abuse – Brooks assaulted/battered his girlfriend Erika Patterson.

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Darrell Brooks Found Guilty of Intentional Homicide, and More: Sentencing Hearings Begin Tomorrow

Darrell E. Brooks, Jr., the man who drove his mother’s red Ford Escape SUV through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, WI, killing 6 people and injuring 61 others, was found guilty, by jury, of each of the 76 charges he faced as a result of the horrific attack.

After a three-week-long intense trial marred by Brooks’ near constant disorder, repeated interruptions, disrespect, distractions, and outlandish behavior, it took the 12-person jury less than three hours of deliberations to reach the guilty verdicts.

On October 26, 2022, Judge Jennifer Dorow began to read aloud the guilty verdicts, a thick stack of blue papers, one for each count. When the judge started to speak, Brooks, who represented himself in the case, was, for the first time, no longer the boisterous, unruly, obnoxious, and argumentative defendant who’d interrupted and attempted to delay the proceedings at every turn.

He must’ve sensed what was coming his way, knowing the evidence against him was enormously overwhelming—thousands of eyewitnesses, the incident, including the deaths and injuries, was captured on video and in still photographs and audio, DNA evidence confirmed his identity and placed him in the vehicle as did numerous people who identified him as the driver, and much, much more.

In lieu of his typically disruptive, loud, and bizarre demeanor, Brooks sat still and quiet, looking at the judge as she read the first, first degree intentional homicide verdict. His face was no longer animated with sneers, eye-rolls, frowns, and that out-of-place and insensitive cocky grin that sometimes split his lips when questioning some witnesses/victims and berating the judge. Instead, his features appeared as deflated, almost as if the street-hard persona was melting away, morphing into an expression associated with a sense of foreboding and impending doom and gloom. The wind was no longer in his sails.

As Judge Dorow read the second guilty verdict, Brooks bowed his head.

At the conclusion of reading the 2nd verdict, a family member of one of the victims killed by Brooks shouted, ““Burn in hell you piece a sh**,” The judge had the man removed from the courtroom and then continued with the business at hand. From that point forward, other than Judge Dorow’s voice and the occasional sounds of people crying in the gallery, the courtroom was practically soundless.

Near the end of the reading of the guilty verdict of count six of first degree intentional homicide (each count carries a mandatory life sentence), Brooks clasped hands and used them to rest his head. He continued to sit this way throughout the 20 minutes it took Judge Dorow announce the remaining verdicts, all of which were guilty.

Brooks didn’t interrupt the judge, something he’d done relentlessly throughout the trial.

At the conclusion of the reading of the guilty verdicts, Judge Dorow asked Brooks if he’d like her to poll the jury. He said yes.

Judge Dorow then had each jury member stand as she called their numbers, one at a time. She asked each juror the same question, “The verdicts read in open court, are those your true verdicts?” Each one confirmed their guilty verdicts.

While the jury members responded to the polling, Brooks raised his head slightly and looked toward them as they responded to the judge’s question.

When the polling was complete, Judge Dorow asked Brooks if was satisfied with the polling of the jury. He again lowered his head against his clasped hands and softly said,” No.”

Judge Dorow, apparently unable to hear Brooks’ response, said, “I’m sorry?”

Brooks, in a slightly more audible tone, again said, No.”

The judge immediately said, “The Court is satisfied with the polling of the jurors. The court now accepts the verdicts.” She then thanked the jury for their service and released them. And with that, Darrell E. Brooks, Jr. stood convicted of 6 counts of first-degree intentional homicide, with use of a dangerous weapon, 61 counts of recklessly endangering safety, with use of a dangerous weapon, 6 counts of hit and run, and two counts of bail jumping.

Judge Dorrow scheduled the sentencing for Brooks on November 15 and 16, which begins tomorrow with oral victim impact statements from 45 people, including 9 children under the age of 18. Brooks submitted a list of 9 people to speak on his behalf. His list includes his mother Dawn Woods, and his grandmother, Mary Darlene Edwards. Both are expected to provide their statements via Zoom.

Inmate Correspondence Form (ICF) to the court stating the 9 people who’re to speak on Brooks’ behalf at the sentencing hearing

Brooks will have 20 days after his sentencing to file a notice to appeal. He has indicated that he will do so.

Those killed by Brooks in the November 2021 parade attack were:

  • Virginia Sorenson, 79 years old
  • LeAnna Owen, 71 years old
  • Tamara Durand, 52 years old
  • Jane Kulich, 52 years old
  • Wilhelm Hospel, 81 years old
  • Jackson Sparks, 8 years old

The sentencing hearsing and victim impact statements will be available to watch live, on various social media and news sites, including Facebook, WISN News, YouTube, Court TV, and more. The hearing is scheduled as follows:

 

 

 

Of course, a quick Google search will provide more links and sites. If interested, you may also search for “Darrell Brooks Trial” to view the trial and recaps, as well as many videos of Brooks’ outlandish behavior.

Click here to view the Court’s official full case summary, all charges, citations, and court records/transcriptions for each day of trial.

*Note – the Court record is fantastic information for writers.

Brooks is scheduled for trial next week for other violent crimes in a different Wisconsin county.

His criminal history is extensive.

September 1999, Milwaukee County
Substantial battery/intentionally causing bodily harm, as party to a crime
RESOLUTION: Guilty/no contest in December 1999
SENTENCE: Two years in prison – which was stayed, three years’ probation, six months in the House of Correction

February 2002, Milwaukee County
Possession of THC, second-plus offense
RESOLUTION: Guilty/no contest in May 2002
SENTENCE: 50 days in the House of Correction with work release, license suspended for six months

January 2003, Milwaukee County
Resisting/obstructing an officer
RESOLUTION: Guilty/no contest in February 2003
SENTENCE: 20 days in the House of Correction

In 2005, in Reno, Nevada, he was charged with statutory sexual seduction and contributing to the delinquency of a minor after he impregnated a 15-year-old girl. He claims the girl told him she was 18. Brooks pled guilty and was required to register as a sex offender.

February 2010, Wood County
Strangulation/suffocation (with previous conviction), battery, criminal damage to property
RESOLUTION: Guilty to strangulation charge in April 2010
SENTENCE: Three years’ probation – which was stayed, 90 days’ jail time with work release

March 2011, Milwaukee County
Resisting or obstructing an officer
RESOLUTION: Guilty in May 2012
SENTENCE: 37 days in the House of Correction with work release

November 2011, Milwaukee County
Possession of THC, second-plus offense
RESOLUTION: Guilty in March 2012
SENTENCE: 180 days in the House of Correction with work release

December 2011, Milwaukee County
Possession of THC, misdemeanor bail jumping
RESOLUTION: Guilty in March 2012
SENTENCE: 180 days in the House of Correction with work release

July 24, 2020

Two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering someone else’s safety and another count of possessing a gun despite being convicted of a felony

RESOLUTION: PENDING

In this case, Milwaukee police officers responded to a home where a woman, either Brooks’ mother or grandmother, told them that Darrell Brooks had gotten into fight with his nephew and fired a shot at or near him.

2021, Milwaukee, WI

Second-degree reckless endangerment, battery and disorderly conduct

Just weeks before the Waukesha Christmas parade, Brooks was accused of domestic abuse when he used his vehicle as a weapon. This was the same red Ford Escape he used in the Waukesha parade attack. A 31-year-old woman who had a child with Brooks, the woman who was impregnated by Brooks when she was 15, told police that he came to her motel in Milwaukee on Nov. 2, where he yelled at her and took her phone. The woman we now know as Erika Patterson, then walked toward a gas station and Brooks followed her and told her to get inside his SUV. When she refused Brooks struck her in the face with his fist.

When Patterson turned and walked away, Brooks struck and ran her over with his vehicle, according to the complaint. Officers reported observing what appeared to be dry blood on her face, a swollen lip and “tire tracks on her left pants leg.”

Police subsequently went to Brooks’ residence and saw him getting out of the red Ford Escape. He ignored police commands to stop and ran into the home where he was arrested.

Brooks was booked into the Milwaukee County Jail on Nov. 3 and released on Nov. 16, after paying a mere $1,000 cash bail set by a judge. His release came just four or five days before he again assaulted Erika Patterson and then minutes later  he drove his vehicle through the parade.

The office of John Chisholm, the Milwaukee County district attorney, released a statement about the bail $1,000 bail saying, “the bail amount was inappropriately low in light of the nature of the recent charges and the pending charges against Mr. Brooks.”

Had the violent career criminal, Darrell Brooks, been held in jail on a higher bond amount, the lives of six people would have been saved, and dozens wouldn’t have been injured, physically and mentally. Instead, victims and their families will relive the horror of “that day”when the painful 1st year anniversary of the parade attack occurs on November 21, 2022, a few days after Brooks is sentenced.

#waukeshastrong

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