(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
KENOSHA, Wis. — The Kenosha man accused of firing at police officers earlier this week during a massive hours-long standoff has a criminal history stretching back to his teenage years, including an armed robbery and shooting case near a Kenosha elementary school in which former District Attorney Michael Graveley dismissed multiple violent felony charges before Andres Casas ultimately received just two years in prison.
Casas, now 35, allegedly fired at officers Monday evening after police responded to a domestic disturbance and child custody incident near 50th Street and 14th Avenue. The confrontation escalated into a nearly eight-hour standoff involving SWAT teams, armored BearCat vehicles, tear gas deployments, and hostage negotiators before Casas was shot by a Kenosha police officer after exiting the residence with a firearm, according to police.
But court records show the confrontation with police was far from Casas’ first violent felony case.
In 2008, when Casas was just 17 years old, he was charged in Kenosha County with a string of violent felonies tied to an incident at Jane Vernon Elementary School.
According to the criminal complaint, Casas rode a bicycle up to a group of people at the school while wearing black clothing and a red bandana over his face and allegedly pointed a silver-and-black handgun at them while demanding they empty their pockets.
One victim told police Casas shot him in the chest with what was described as a BB or pellet gun after the victim refused to comply. The complaint states Casas then allegedly told the victim, “I know that hurt you, nigger.”
The original charges filed against Casas included:
- Attempt armed robbery, violent crime in a school zone — Count 1
- Attempt armed robbery, violent crime in a school zone — Count 2
- Attempt armed robbery, violent crime in a school zone — Count 3
- Attempt armed robbery, violent crime in a school zone — Count 4
- Aggravated battery with use of a dangerous weapon, violent crime in a school zone — Count 5
- First-degree recklessly endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon, violent crime in a school zone — Count 6
- Substantial battery with use of a dangerous weapon, violent crime in a school zone — Count 7
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, then-Assistant District Attorney Michael Graveley later dismissed several major felony counts as part of a plea agreement.
The charges dismissed on the prosecutor’s motion were:
- Attempt armed robbery, violent crime in a school zone — Count 2
- Attempt armed robbery, violent crime in a school zone — Count 3
- Attempt armed robbery, violent crime in a school zone — Count 4
- Aggravated battery with use of a dangerous weapon, violent crime in a school zone — Count 5
Casas ultimately pleaded guilty to:
- Attempt armed robbery, violent crime in a school zone — Count 1
- First-degree recklessly endangering safety with use of a dangerous weapon, violent crime in a school zone — Count 6
- Substantial battery with use of a dangerous weapon, violent crime in a school zone — Count 7
The sentencing was handled by Judge Mary Kay Wagner, who was widely viewed by critics as one of the most liberal judges in Kenosha County history.
Court records show Wagner sentenced Casas to just two years in prison on each count, all concurrent, meaning he served the sentences at the same time rather than consecutively. The overall bifurcated sentence totaled eight years including extended supervision, but only two years were ordered as prison time.
Casas later returned to Kenosha County court in a major 2016 cocaine trafficking case handled by then-Deputy District Attorney Rosa Delgado.
In that case, investigators alleged Casas repeatedly sold cocaine and marijuana to a confidential informant while operating near schools and parks throughout Kenosha. Authorities accused Casas of delivering cocaine near Edward Bain School of Language and Arts and Wilson Park and later recovering more than 40 grams of cocaine during the investigation.
The 2016 charges included:
- Manufacture/deliver THC near a park — Count 1
- Manufacture/deliver cocaine near a park — Count 2
- Manufacture/deliver cocaine near a school — Count 3
- Manufacture/deliver cocaine near a school — Count 4
- Manufacture/deliver cocaine near a school — Count 5
- Possession with intent to deliver more than 40 grams of cocaine near a school — Count 6
- Possession with intent to deliver THC near a school — Count 7
- Possession with intent to deliver narcotics — Count 8
- Possession of a firearm by a felon — Count 9
Casas ultimately pleaded guilty to:
- Possession with intent to deliver more than 40 grams of cocaine near a school — Count 6
- Possession of a firearm by a felon — Count 9
The following charges were dismissed but read into the case for sentencing purposes:
- Manufacture/deliver THC near a park — Count 1
- Manufacture/deliver cocaine near a park — Count 2
- Manufacture/deliver cocaine near a school — Count 3
- Manufacture/deliver cocaine near a school — Count 4
- Manufacture/deliver cocaine near a school — Count 5
- Possession with intent to deliver THC near a school — Count 7
- Possession with intent to deliver narcotics — Count 8
Unlike the 2008 case, the 2016 prosecution handled by then-Deputy District Attorney Rosa Delgado resulted in a much stiffer punishment. Court records show Casas was sentenced to eight years in prison, followed by six years of extended supervision, on the cocaine charge.
Now, after allegedly firing at police officers during Monday’s standoff, Casas once again faces the possibility of spending decades behind bars if prosecutors pursue attempted homicide or other major felony charges connected to the officer-involved shooting investigation.
2 Responses
Remnants of the Gravely/McNeil crime free for all. Good riddance.
ICE him away!