On June 5, Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt charged the Waupun Correctional Institution’s warden, Randall Hepp, with misconduct in public office. Eight other Waupun employees face charges of felony inmate abuse. Three of them are also charged with misconduct.

On today’s show, host Esty Dinur talks with Sheriff Schmidt about the arrests and ongoing problems at Waupun. We’re also joined by attorney Lonnie Story who represents the families of Donald Maier, Cameron Williams, and Tyshun Lemons who died in Waupun, and whose deaths are the cause of the arrests earlier this month.

At issue is the ongoing lockdown, which the state’s Department of Corrections calls “modified movement.” But Sheriff Schmidt says that the lockdown didn’t contribute to the deaths. 

Attorney Story also represents the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit. He says his clients are asking for restoration of medical, psychological, and dental treatment along with better conditions in the prison in general. Waupun is an over 125-years old facility that is infested with rodents and insects and where inmates are exposed to contaminated water. Since the warden at Waupun has been removed, attorney Story says a receiver should be appointed to run the prison. 

Attorney Lonnie Story represents the families of three men who died in Waupun Correctional Institution in the last year. He also represents the 10 lead plaintiffs from Waupun who have filed a class action lawsuit demanding an end to the facility-wide lockdown.

Dale Schmidt is the Dodge County Sheriff, President of the Badger State Sheriffs’ Association and President, and the Dodge County Executive Law Enforcement Association.

Image courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Corrections.

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