Tag: Weston Schools

D-A says she won’t appeal judge’s ruling regarding school records:

Like I theorized last week, Sauk County District Attorney Pat Barrett said that her case against Eric Hainstock will not be affected by the recent ruling that Hainstock’s school records will be sealed…

Barrett says she sought the boy’s school records as a matter of routine in an investigation of a crime at a school that involved school personnel. But she says she doesn’t anticipate needing the records to prosecute the case, given the number of witnesses and some admissions by the defendant.

For those of you just joining us, Eric Hainstock shot and killed Weston High School principal John Klang in front of witnesses.

Hopefully prosecuting Hainstock will be a slam dunk.

Judge Rules Accused Teen Shooter’s Records Sealed:

A Wisconsin judge has ruled that the school records obtained by the prosecution against Eric Hainstock will remain sealed and will not be used by the prosecution…

The ruling comes after Eric Hainstock’s attorney argued that the records are confidential and the subpoena to get them does not show how they could tie into the September shooting of Principal John Klang at Weston Schools in Cazenovia.

Sauk County Circuit Judge Patrick Taggart issued the ruling denying the prosecutors’ request on Monday.

Hainstock’s lawyer, Debra O’Rourke, argued at a Nov. 3 hearing that the subpoena was far too broad and that prosecutors were searching for more charges to file. Hainstock faces a charge in adult court of first-degree intentional homicide and a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.

Another Hainstock attorney, Catherine Ankenbrandt, said Tuesday they were pleased with the judge’s ruling and that he had decided correctly.

Honestly, I don’t think the prosecution really needs them since Hainstock kind of shot John Klang dead in front of witnesses. But I guess it never hurts to have more ammunition to put someone away so to speak.

Hainstock’s Lawyer Fights School Records Seizure:

Eric Hainstock’s attorney, Debra O’Rourke, is trying to get school records subpoenaed by the prosecution excluded. She claims that the records are confidential and the subpoena does not show how they are relevant to the murder of Weston Schools principal John Klang. District Attorney Pat Barrett is arguing that the records are relevant stating that Hainstock had issues with numerous students over the past three years and that he was going to “see” them the day he killed Klang. O’Rourke also said that the school did not fulfill her request for the records even though she had permission from the family. Judge Patrick Taggart will rule on the matter in two weeks.

School ‘security’ is wrong response:

This is a letter to the editor of a Wisconsin newspaper about new security measures being put in place after the killing of Weston Schools principal John Klang…

Dear Editor: I have great sympathy for those affected by the Weston school shooting last week, particularly the family of John Klang.

That said, the new “security measures” in place as students return to school seem to be a prime example of the wrong sort of response, the kind Americans are so good at these days, of putting good people on lockdown in the wake of a singular act by a single person. One very troubled youth commits a horrific act, and now the rest of the school is subject to armed surveillance and the registration of outsiders?

What sort of message is that intended to send we are trying to prevent further armed attacks by bringing in more arms and suspecting everyone?

I urge the School Board to consider intelligently and rationally addressing root causes here, even in the wake of a very irrational and heartbreaking incident, before initializing knee-jerk measures that can only result in more fear and anguish.

Not to mention the fact that the steps they seem to be taking are like closing the barn door after the horses are already out.

Judge Sets Bail For Accused Teen School Shooter:

(AP) BARABOO, Wis. A judge set bail at $750,000 Monday for a 15-year-old boy accused of killing his high school principal after prosecutors said the teen may have been looking for others to attack as well.

Sauk County District Attorney Pat Barrett told the judge there were other “persons of interest” for Eric Hainstock when he went to Weston Schools in Cazenovia Friday morning and shot Principal John Klang. She told reporters after the five-minute hearing that Hainstock may have had additional targets picked out.

“There were potentially other people that he had a beef with at the time,” she said, but did not elaborate.

Hainstock’s attorneys asked for $10,000 bail, saying the teen has lived in the Sauk County area his whole life and has no convictions.

But Circuit Judge Patrick Taggart agreed with Barrett.

“It goes without saying the public does need protection in this matter,” he said.

$10,000 bail for shooting a man at point-blank range in cold blood? Defense attorneys never fail to crack me up.

Search warrants show deputies found a note at Hainstock’s house from him to his father, along with boxes of ammunition, discipline reports from Weston Schools and a photo of a girl with her eyes poked out. Klang gave Hainstock a disciplinary notice for having tobacco in the school Thursday, the day before the shooting, according to the criminal complaint.

Court records also say Eric Hainstock had a medical condition that affected his behavior but he was not receiving treatment because the family could no longer afford drugs or counseling.

It seems like to me they just were too lazy to get him treatment or didn’t care. There are state agencies and programs designed to help people like this. Not that any of this is an excuse for killing.

Jailed teen drew teachers’ concern since preschool:

One teacher at Weston High School says that Eric Hainstock’s claims of harassment are bogus…

The gunfire that killed Principal John Klang early Friday seemed to echo through the rolling hills of rural Cazenovia as residents absorbed the shock of the slaying and the first-degree murder charges.

Some said they were repelled by reports that Hainstock – being held in the Sauk County Jail in Baraboo – told investigators he just wanted someone to listen to his complaints about being tormented by classmates who rubbed up against him and called him “fag” and “faggot.”

His special education teacher on Saturday called the claims a “total joke.” James Nowak said Hainstock didn’t give his anger management counselor a clue of what was to come.

But Nowak, one of three special education teachers at the school, said Hainstock had just finished serving a three-day suspension. Nowak said that about two weeks ago, the student swore at him and, when he fled, threw a stapler at him.

“He said something to me and scared me,” Nowak said. “I backed out of the room and got out of there and ran. The stapler flew past my head and hit the wall. He had the stapler open – it cracked the cement.”

Police were called, and they released him to the custody of his father, Nowak said.

Hainstock told police he gunned down Klang before classes began Friday because he was upset with a reprimand Klang had given him. He was facing an in-school suspension for having tobacco in school Thursday, the criminal complaint said.

He told police he was also upset because he felt teachers didn’t stop students who harassed him, the complaint said.

But Nowak said the youth was unlikely to have been the butt of jokes. “He wasn’t picked on,” he said. “He was the one who would have picked on people.”

The description of Hainstock as victimized is “a total joke,” he said. “We stand up for these kids (special education students) as much as possible. We are advocates for the kids. If they are being picked on, we try to stop it.”

The ultimate bullies are the ones that have to resort to guns to resolve their own issues.

Wisconsin teen charged in deadly school shooting:

September 30, 2006 – A 15-year-old Wisconsin boy has been charged as an adult for murdering his principal. Police say Eric Hainstock went to his Cazenovia school armed with a pistol and a shotgun Friday morning where he shot the principal, John Klang, three times during a struggle. Klang later died at the hospital.

Remember kids, no matter how big and bad you think you are because you have a gun there is always going to be someone bigger and badder than you when you’re spending the rest of your life behind bars. It’s not worth it.