Ex-police officer admits to nearly 60 burglaries

GREEN LAKE – An ex-police lieutenant arrested following a two-day crime spree in 2013 has admitted that he was responsible for nearly 60 burglaries across the state.

Former Waupun police officer Brad Young appeared in Green Lake County Court Tuesday afternoon and entered a no contest plea to crimes committed in seven counties, including Fond du Lac, Dodge and Green Lake.

In exchange for information detailing the breadth and depth of Young's criminal activity, special prosecutor Kyle Sargent said the state agreed to charge him with one count of burglary in each of the seven counties where crimes were committed. While each felony count carries a maximum prison sentence of 121/ 2 years, Sargent said the state — including all of the district attorneys in Fond du Lac, Dodge, Green Lake, Marquette, Burnett, Waushara and Waupaca — has agreed to cap Young's initial prison confinement at 10 years.

Plea deal details

"We didn't know which crimes he committed until he confessed," Sargent said. "I can appreciate the victim concerns (about the length of sentence), but at the same time we needed to do something to see how big this was and, frankly, without this information we'd be looking at a lot fewer counts and none of the other victims (of additional crimes) would be considered for restitution without going through the process that we did."

Green Lake County Circuit Court Judge Mark Slate made his displeasure known to both the defense and prosecution about the last minute delivery of court documents, including an inch-thick stack of impact statements and restitution requests from Young's victims.

"I was just handed these documents and haven't had the luxury of looking them over. But there's approximately $100,000 in restitution claims along five pages of victims listed," Slate said. "I will certainly keep an open mind, but the fact is there are 59 burglaries and the state is capping their argument at 10 years. But understand, at first blush that seems like a low number to the court and I'm not bound by that."

Financial issues

Young was arrested following an alleged multi-county crime spree in 2013. Following his arrest on Aug. 6, 2013, several law enforcement agencies began taking a second look at unsolved burglaries, including the City of Fond du Lac.

According to the latest criminal complaint filed on Feb. 17, Young, 45, met with law enforcement representatives from Green Lake, Fond du Lac, Marquette, Waushara, Waupun and Dodge counties in July 2014 and confessed to all of the burglaries that he committed. He estimated that he burglarized at least 59 businesses between 2007 and 2013.

Young told investigators he committed the crimes due to financial issues which included gambling, according to the criminal complaint. Records at Waupun City Hall show that Young earned $61,659 in base salary in 2013 and $60,450 in 2012. Young resigned from the Waupun Police Department after 22 years as an officer.

Cost to victims

Slate said the state would seek funds from Young's pension to satisfy restitution for victims.

Lake View Inn on Little Green Lake near Markesan was burglarized twice by Young, first in 2009 and again in 2011.

"In the 84-year history of the business, there has never been a security system in place until now," said Allen, who estimates that more than $12,500 was taken in the two break-ins. "It cost me over $2,031 to install the system and $1,200 a year for monitoring fees."

Allen said Young's actions came with a greater cost — his peace of mind and sense of security.

"To say we felt violated by these crimes is putting it mildly. There were times when my wife and I were afraid to come inside our business for fear of what we'd find," Allen said. "I still believe (Young) had an accomplice. There's no way possible he could have carried our safe by himself. So without knowing if there are others still out there, everyone is still wondering 'are we next?'"

More victims

According to the criminal complaint, Young was a suspect in break-ins at the following Fond du Lac businesses during July 2010: Citi Financial; 439 N. Pioneer Road, Euphoria, 976 E. Johnson St.; Sisters Nail Salon, 976 E. Johnson St.; Automotive Supply Co., 417 N. Pioneer Road; Sombreros restaurant, 445 N. Pioneer Road; Creations Hair Studio, 491 N. Pioneer Road; the former Coaches Corner, 121 N. Pioneer Road; Optivision, 437 N. Pioneer Road; and Whispering Springs Golf Course, 380 Whispering Springs Drive.

Young also admitted to burglarizing Lori's Bar in Lamartine, Leahy's Pub in Fairwater, Terri's Bar in Fond du Lac, Royal Ridges and Ripon Ford, both in Ripon, Tabbert's Restaurant in Rosendale on two occasions, and a private Waupun residence, all between 2009 and 2011, according to the criminal complaint.

While the suspect used the same mode of entry into each business, police were able to link Young to the break-in at Coaches Corner when DNA from a blood smear found on the floor matched the DNA of Young, the complaint said.

Slate ordered a pre-sentencing investigation and will set sentencing for some time in April.

Contact Colleen Kottke at (920) 907-7968 or ckottke@fdlreporter.com; Twitter: @ColleenKottke.