WASHBURN COUNTY -- Four criminal complaints have been filed in Washburn County Circuit Court against Terry A Leckel, III, age 18, of Shell Lake, WI. Investigations by the Shell Lake Police Department, Spooner Police Department, Washburn County Sheriff’s Office, and Washburn County Department of Health and Human Services have led to several felony charges against Leckel, III.
During the course of these investigations, Leckel, III was taken into custody and interviewed by Law Enforcement. Leckel, III appeared for a bail hearing on March 16, 2020, and the Court placed him on a $5,000 signature bond with conditions prohibiting him from being out without his father and also prohibiting him from having contact with juveniles other than relatives.
The criminal charges as listed in the criminal complaints filed against Leckel, III in Washburn County Circuit Court are described below.
Armed Robbery & Burglary
On May 8, 2020, a criminal complaint was filed charging Leckel, III with Class C Felony Armed Robbery, Class E Felony Armed Burglary, Class I Felony Substantial Battery; with a penalty enhancer for Party to a Crime for a home invasion incident that allegedly occurred in Spooner, WI in October 2019.
Spooner Police Department responded to a residence in Spooner, WI on October 20, 2019 to investigate a report of an assault. The victim of the assault was bleeding from the head and told officers that 4 or 5 people had entered the residence and struck the victim with an object, perhaps a pipe. It was later determined that the object may have been a firearm. A witness in the area following the incident told Officers they saw a group of people who ran away from the area.
In early November 2019, Spooner Police Department received further information identifying several individuals involved in the alleged home invasion, including Leckel, III, and ranging in ages from 12 to 18. One of the individuals who entered the residence was allegedly carrying a real firearm and some of the others were carrying airsoft guns.
In March 2020, Leckel, III was interviewed by Law Enforcement while in custody. According to the criminal complaint filed against him, Leckel, III admitted that in October 2019 he was paid for a ‘gig’ which involved being a getaway driver for the individuals involved in the home invasion. The criminal complaint goes on to state that a second vehicle was involved and that an Xbox was stolen from the residence where the assault occurred along with a bag of marijuana.
At the time of this post, no new criminal charges were posted in online circuit court records against any other individuals allegedly involved in the incident.
Stolen Firearm
On April 29, 2020, a criminal complaint was filed against Leckel, III charging him with Class H Felony Concealing a Stolen Firearm.
In late February 2020, the Shell Lake Police Department received a statement from a student at the Shell Lake High School indicating that Leckel, III may be in possession of a stolen firearm. Shell Lake Police Chief Wilson responded to Leckel, III’s residence, was granted permission to access the bedroom of Leckel, III and located the described .45 caliber firearm in the bedroom. Two magazines were also located, one with ammunition and an empty one inside the firearm.
The firearm matched a firearm reported as stolen, and there had been an attempt to file off the serial number.
When interviewed regarding the stolen firearm, Leckel, III allegedly admitted knowledge of the theft of the firearm, however, he did not admit to taking the firearm.
Sexual Assault
A criminal complaint was filed on May 1, 2020 against Leckel, III charging him with Class G Felony 3rd Degree Sexual Assault.
In early March 2020, Washburn County Department of Health and Human Services contacted the Washburn County Sheriff’s Office to report an alleged sexual assault. The assault allegedly occurred in the autumn of 2019.
Leckel, III allegedly was at an area lake with the underage victim and provided alcohol to the victim before sexually assaulting the victim. Leckel, III allegedly was told to stop numerous times before the victim blacked out.
Felony Bail Jumping
On May 1, 2020, a criminal complaint was filed against Leckel, III charging him with Class H Felony Bail Jumping.
On April 23, 2020 the Spooner Police Department received a complaint that two individuals were at a park located with the City limits and had torn down the police tape from some playground equipment which had been put in place due to Wisconsin’s Safer At Home Emergency Order #12.
Officers responded to the area and located a vehicle matching the description provided and executed a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Leckel, III. A juvenile passenger was also in the vehicle.
When Officers explained the reason for the stop, Leckel, III allegedly admitted to tearing down the tape and using the park equipment.
Washburn County Dispatch confirmed to the Officers that Leckel, III was on bond with conditions prohibiting him from being out without his father and also prohibiting him from having contact with juveniles other than relatives.
Leckel, III was taken into custody and at a hearing on April 24, 2020, the Court placed Leckel, III on an additional $500 cash bail bond.
If convicted of all charges as filed against him, Leckel, III faces a potential maximum sentence of 80 years confinement in State Prison.
He is scheduled to appear again in June 2020 regarding all his criminal charges.
This case has not been concluded. 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.
Last Update: May 22, 2020 8:35 am CDT
