By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
A court hearing originally set for April 24 has been rescheduled to May 15 for a part-time Town of Waterford police officer accused of shooting off a gun outside her Town of LaGrange home following an argument with her husband.
Attorney Frank Lettenberger, who represents Officer Kayla Demarasse, 32, made a brief appearance in Walworth County Court April 24.
Kellen Olshefski, a Southern Lakes Newspapers editor who attended the April 24 bail/bond hearing, reports Walworth County Circuit Court Judge James Carlson said in court that a file had not been presented that day, and also noted that a bond already is in place. Demarasse signed for a $1,000 signature bond with the court, according to online records.
Judge Carlson then agreed to Lettenberger’s request that the next court appearance be set for May 15.
Demarasse has not been charged with any crime in the alleged incident.
When interviewed by Walworth County investigators, Demarasse reportedly admitted to drinking heavily March 14 and said she usually doesn’t drink, so it probably affected her more; she said her duty weapon for part-time patrol with the Waterford town police is kept at the Waterford department and is not the weapon she fired.
DeMarasse reportedly admitted to an investigator that she shot one round into a small pond about 30 yards from her home after arguing that evening with her husband. The report estimates her brother-in-law’s home is about 75 yards away; homes in a subdivision are about 150 yards away; and Highway 12 is about 150 yards away from the direction DeMarasse fired.
Last week, Town of Waterford Police Chief Tom Ditscheit said an internal investigation at the Town Police Department began when Demarasse informed Sgt. Matt Johnson of the incident.
As the case progresses, Ditscheit said, he’ll consider what decisions are made by the Walworth district attorney’s office, the Town’s internal investigation will be completed, “and we’ll see where we go from there.”
Ditscheit said his understanding is Walworth County District Attorney Daniel Necci does not intend to press state charges against Demarasse. Instead, she’ll likely face non-criminal ordinance violations as long as her outpatient treatment for alcohol abuse is successful.
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Something doesn’t make sense here! She gets into a domestic abuse situation, fires a gun, and isn’t charged criminally? Intoxicated use of a firearm? Recklessly endangering safety? Who reading this believes they would get the same treatment as this police officer???? Anyone else would spend a night in jail with a bond so high only Donald Trump would be able to get us out!
Based on the Chief’s response, I think she can expect a wrist slap from him as well.
What an embarrassment! I hope they take this seriously and investigate all of the allegations against her, including the off-duty alleged exposing herself at a bar in Tichigan.
What’s disturbing is that this clown of a chief seems to have some inside knowledge that she wont be facing a criminal situation.
What is also alarming is that she told the cops that she “usually doesn’t drink” yet she is apparently off somewhere for alcohol treatment. What would she need treatment for if she doesn’t drink much? Which one is the truth?
I’ve heard many, many disturbing, reoccurring and consistent stories about the officers on this force for several years now. There has been an extraordinary lack of leadership, competence and accountability on this police force, and we deserve much better!