(Kenosha County Sheriff)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha man who led police on a dangerous chase through city streets avoided a traditional jail sentence this week when Judge Angelina Gabriele (D) withheld sentence and placed him on probation.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Daniel Merl Hipps IV, 25, was originally charged in December with attempting to flee or elude an officer after an aggressive encounter with Kenosha Police. According to the criminal complaint, Hipps screamed profanities at officers, sped through a red light, made an improper turn in front of traffic, and then fled a traffic stop at high speeds through a narrow alleyway before being taken into custody at his home.
He was later charged with a second count, 2nd-Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, which carries up to 10 years in prison. That charge was dismissed and read in as part of a plea deal when Hipps pleaded guilty to the felony fleeing charge. The maximum penalty for the count he admitted to is six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Hipps initially posted $1,000 cash bail after his first court appearance. In June, he entered his guilty plea, and prosecutors requested a pre-sentence investigation. At sentencing on Aug. 13, defense attorney Terry Rose asked for more time for Hipps to participate in the PSI process, but Judge Gabriele denied the request and moved forward.
Instead of a prison term, Judge Gabriele withheld sentence and placed Hipps on three years of probation with conditions. Those conditions include six months in the Kenosha County Jail with work release privileges beginning Aug. 16. The court also ordered him to submit a DNA sample and pay court costs. If he violates probation, the court may reconsider the sentence, but Hipps received two days’ credit in case of revocation.
Despite the seriousness of the case, Hipps will not serve a single day in a traditional jail setting. His six months of confinement will allow him to leave daily for work, significantly softening the punishment.
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6 Responses
Wow why bother?
Slap in the face to the officers who arrested him. Must be something special about this guy.
wink wink
Sure, because KPD is squeaky clean.
Defendant got six months in the county jail, half of what Steinbrink jr. got for a nonviolent offense.
He gave all the white answers.
He’s my neighbor I watched everything go down when I was outside doing my grass he got pulled over in the alley. He drove maybe 200 feet at like 14 miles an hour into his back driveway. There was no high speed chase I spoke to his spouse. He actually got 6 months. It’s funny how a cop can say something and they automatically believe it.