Published: Nov. 8, 2018
Milwaukee man gets prison for burglarizing 3 county
businesses
He targeted places in six counties
By Nicholas Dettmann
ndettmann@conleynet.com 262-306-5043
WEST BEND — A Milwaukee man was sentenced
Wednesday to four years in the Wisconsin prison system — two years confinement
and two years extended supervision — for burglarizing three Washington County
businesses.
The sentence comes after a long line of
burglaries by Raymond B. Smith throughout
six counties in southeastern Wisconsin, with 23
convictions. Smith is due to be in prison until 2032 after Wednesday’s
sentence. He also has a sentencing pending in January in Fond du Lac County for
burglary.
Smith, 42, appeared in Washington County Court
via video conference from the Oshkosh Correctional Institution. He was
represented by attorney Alyssa Armbrust. Assistant District Attorney Sandra
Giernoth appeared for the state.
Smith pleaded guilty to one of the three
burglary charges he faced. The others were dismissed but were considered in
sentencing by Judge Andrew Gonring.
During the sentencing, Gonring said three areas
needed to be considered when considering an appropriate sentence — sending a
deterring message to not only Smith but others participating in similar behavior, Smith’s character and the need to protect the community.
On the charge Smith pleaded to, according to
the criminal complaint, on April 28, 2017, Smith broke a glass door at Cedar
Creek Pet Resort in the town of Polk and stole $100 from a cash box. He was
also charged with burglarizing the Beef Jerky Outlet in Richfield and Logan’s
Pet Grooming & Day Care in Hartford.
Smith has also committed burglaries in
Waukesha, Fond du Lac, Ozaukee, Milwaukee and Racine counties.
In her sentence recommendation,
Giernoth said most commercial burglaries aren’t
as serious as those of a home. Gonring agreed. However, Gonring said to
consider the small-business owner(s) or the victims. Gonring said these are
people trying to make ends meet and make a living, maintain a budget, a payroll
and other business matters. The security of those establishments and those who
either work there or patronize it have now been compromised, Gonring said.
Giernoth pointed to Smith’s extensive record.
She said between 2007-2018, Smith has spent more than half that time in prison.
Smith, a father and a grandfather, pleaded to
the court to have mercy and he apologized to the community and the victims for
what he did.
Armbrust requested the court consider that
small amounts of money were taken during the incidents to fuel a drug
addiction. She also noted, as did Smith, a traumatic childhood, which included
being sexually molested by an uncle when he was young.
Smith said he has struggled in dealing with the
trauma and Armbrust said the necessary help for Smith is finally available.
While he acknowledged that childhood trauma,
especially if it’s related to sexual assault, is a serious matter, Gonring said
he struggled to have confidence in Smith’s ability to clean up his act, given
his record.
“This will not be tolerated in our community,”
Gonring said.
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