Eric Sparr has been appointed as the new Winnebago County district attorney by Gov. Tony Evers. He fills the vacancy left by Christian Gossett. He has years of experience in the field and will bring a fresh perspective to the office. In his new role, Sparr will focus on reducing criminal penalties and protecting the public.
Eric Sparr
Eric Sparr, a former deputy district attorney, has been appointed as the new district attorney of Winnebago County. He replaces Christian Gossett, who resigned on May 7. Sparr will serve the remainder of Gossett’s four-year term. He has worked in the district attorney’s office since 2005 and has prosecuted a wide variety of cases. He has also worked to implement programs that target substance abuse and reduce recidivism in the county.
Sparr is a native of Oshkosh and is involved in many community and professional organizations. He serves on the board of the Day-by-Day Warming Shelter and is a member of the Rotary Club.
Christian Gossett
Christian Gossett, winne bago county district attorney, was first elected in 2006. He spent some time as a prosecutor in Waukesha County before moving to Winnebago County as an assistant district attorney. Later, he went into the private sector. He was elected district attorney in 2006 and took over at a time when many residents didn’t trust the DA’s office after former DA Joe Paulus was sentenced to prison for accepting $48,000 in bribes. He quickly rebuilt the trust of the community and surpassed Paulus as the longest-serving district attorney in county history.
Gossett served as Winnebago County district attorney for 15 years. His resignation is effective May 7. The governor’s office is currently looking for a replacement for the position.
Joe Paulus
Former District Attorney Joe Paulus served as a hard-nosed crime fighter for 12 years in Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Paulus was well-liked in the local media for his aggressive tactics and ruthless pursuit of criminals. He was also feared by the community and elected officials.
Paulus admitted to accepting bribes from one defense attorney in exchange for favorable treatment of his clients. Paulus received half of the lawyer’s client fees in exchange for reducing charges and dismissing cases. He also agreed to return seized property. The bribe money totaled $48,050, which he failed to declare on his tax returns.
Paulus also knowingly obtained perjured testimony from key witnesses. In one case, he bribed potential state witnesses and kept the bribes hidden from Price, thereby presenting a case that was based on false evidence. He also withheld evidence that could have helped Price’s defense. While Winnebago County Deputy District Attorney Scott Ceman acknowledged Paulus’ conduct was questionable, he argued that there was sufficient evidence to support Price’s murder conviction. He also acknowledged that he had not investigated the allegations of misconduct during the appeal process.
Marsy’s Law
The Marsy’s Law for Wisconsin group has teamed up with the Winnebago County District Attorney’s Workplace to explore how the criminal justice system impacts victims. The exercise will highlight the areas where improvements are needed and will help everyone involved understand what’s happening on the other side of the law.
The idea behind Marsy’s Law is to make sure victims have a voice in the criminal justice system. It’s important to remember that crime affects everyone, from children to adults, and victims are often the least powerful participants. Marsy’s Law is a bipartisan effort, unifying legislators, law enforcement, and advocacy groups.
J. Hanley
J. Hanley, Winnebago County State’s Attorney, is a veteran of the Illinois legal system. Before he was elected, he worked as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Winnebago County. His career also included work as an Assistant United States Attorney for the District of Arizona. He was the leader of an investigation team that was recognized with the Homeland Security Investigations 2010 Annual Award.
The lawsuit filed by Raoul and Hanley in Winnebago County Circuit Court seeks to require Chemtool to assess the extent of its pollution and take immediate corrective actions. Additionally, it seeks to force the company to pay civil penalties. Hanley is represented by Assistant Attorney General Kevin Garstka and Ellen O’Laughlin. The Civil Bureau chief Lafakeria Vaughn is in charge of the environmental portion of the case.