WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The man accused of breaking into two Rothschild homes in one night while also stealing a police squad car will serve prison time as part of a plea deal in the case.
Jonathon Bishop pled no contest to two counts of taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent, fleeing or eluding an officer and escaping criminal arrest on Monday. In exchange for the plea, several other counts were dismissed but read in including multiple misdemeanor counts of theft of moveable property, criminal damage to property, and theft of moveable property valued at less than $2500.
Judge Greg Huber then sentenced Bishop to four years in prison for the counts of stealing a vehicle and escaping arrest. Those counts will run concurrently, and he will then serve a fifth year for the charge of fleeing an officer.
Bishop’s sentence also includes probation time and paying over $4,300 restitution to the victims in the case including $500 to the village of Rothschild. He had previously pled not guilty to the charges.
Monday’s court action closed the books on numerous open cases against Bishop including some drug-related charges.
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The incident was part of a crime spree back in April during which Bishop was accused of breaking into a home in Rothschild and hiding in the bathroom after he was caught rummaging through a vehicle. Officers were able to apprehend him, but after he was arrested and placed in the squad car he maneuvered his way into the driver’s seat and took off as officers were still processing the scene.
Officers gave chase but later called off the pursuit. The squad car was found crashed into a backyard in another area of Rothschild, and Bishop was found hiding in a nearby attic.