Jordan Feemster, of De Pere, pleaded not guilty Jan. 31 to charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, battery, criminal damage to property and first-degree recklessly endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon in Shawano County.
The arraignment followed a request by Feemster to get a different judge earlier in January. The case had originally been before Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge William Kussel Jr. but was transferred to Judge Katherine Sloma.
Feemster was charged in June after an incident May 24 at the Shawano Square Apartments on East Richmond Street after police spoke with the victim, his girlfriend at the time, and learned about how plans to go out for the night turned almost deadly.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim in the incident was getting ready to go out when Feemster allegedly asked for her phone passcode. Feemster allegedly saw a message from a co-worker and then pushed her into the bathtub and hit her on the left side of her head. After allegedly dragging the victim from the bathroom to the bedroom, Feemster allegedly went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife, and then he put the knife to her side and neck, according to the complaint.
The victim allegedly told Feemster that she loved him and wanted to be with him, claiming Feemster had a history of talking about self-harm. Feemster’s mother was allegedly called to help calm him down. The victim got out of the house and jumped into her vehicle, but Feemster allegedly chased her to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Office, where she ran inside for help and he fled, according to the complaint.
Feemster and the victim had known each other for at least eight years, but they had only been dating for a few months, according to the complaint. The victim showed an officer wounds in her leg and knee area and claimed she was fearful for her life.
The Shawano Police Department found a knife on the bed and asked the victim if it was the one used to cause a 3-inch laceration on her neck, and she claimed it was. There was also an injury found on the victim’s knee and blood on the victim’s shirt, according to the complaint.
Feemster faces a maximum of 60 years in prison for the attempted homicide charge, a maximum of 12 1/2 years for the recklessly endangering safety charge along with a maximum $25,000 fine, and up to nine months and $10,000 for the two misdemeanor charges.
Feemster is currently in Kettle Moraine Correctional Institution in Glenbuelah, transferred there after serving a 10-month sentence in Dodge County after pleading no contest to fleeing and eluding officers and resisting those same officers.
A $75,000 cash bond has been ordered once Feemster is back in Shawano County’s custody.
Feemster has a number of criminal convictions in Wisconsin. In 2018, he was found guilty of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, victim intimidation and battery in Brown County. In 2014, he was found guilty, also in Brown County, of false imprisonment, battery and criminal damage to property. In 2010, he was found guilty on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct in Brown County.
A final pre-trial for Feemster is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 23 in Branch I of the Shawano County Courthouse. Originally, the court had been looking to March for the hearing, but Trisha Fritz, Feemster’s attorney, said she was still waiting for discovery material from the district attorney’s office and would need ample time to get up to speed.
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
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