Oconto County has chosen not to pursue further charges against a Green Bay man found guilty March 11 of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide.
Richard Sotka, 49, was out on bail from an Oconto County stalking case when he stabbed Rhonda Cegelski, 53, and Paula O’Connor, 58, to death on Jan. 29, 2023. He was arrested in Arkansas the day after the murders, having cut off and discarded an ankle bracelet he was ordered to wear while out on bail in the Oconto County case.
Sotka had posted $10,750 cash while he awaited trial on charges of stalking and misdemeanor counts of bail jumping and disorderly conduct, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Sept. 1, 2021, and an alleged Oct. 31, 2021, restraining order violation. The allegations involved a different woman than the Brown County case.
Judge Beau Liegeois sentenced Sotka on May 20 to two consecutive life sentences in prison without parole. The defendant has been transferred to Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun.
During a short court hearing June 17, Judge Michael Judge granted District Attorney Hannah Schuchart’s motion to dismiss the remaining Oconto County charges.
Oconto charges dropped against convicted killer
