Click here to view La Crosse Area Weather
Home > News > Story
 Advertisement 

Published - Thursday, September 18, 2008

POST COMMENT | READ COMMENTS (12 comment(s))

Man who hit bicyclist with gas can gets 7 years


.
A La Crosse man was sentenced Wednesday to seven years in prison for knocking a 70-year-old off a bicycle with a plastic gas can and then stealing the bike in July 2007.

Michael Brown, 27, of 1313 South Ave., will then serve four years on extended supervision and three years of probation consecutively under a sentence handed down by La Crosse County Circuit Judge Dale Pasell.
Brown has not shown remorse for the attack, Pasell said, and is a danger to the community. An August 2007 battery charge stemming from an assault on a jail inmate further demonstrates a violent nature, the judge said.

Brown will be credited for 434 days already served in jail.

The bicyclist was on the 2100 block of South Avenue en route to a haircut July 11, 2007, when Brown hit him in the face with a red gas can, according to the criminal complaint. Brown struck the man again with the gas can and punched him in the head, then fled on the bicycle.

The bicyclist had several facial cuts but declined treatment at a hospital, according to the complaint.

“This was an unprovoked attack on a 70-year-old man on a bike in broad daylight,” said La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke. “The streets should be safe from people like Mr. Brown.”

Brown claimed the bicyclist yelled a racial slur and threatened to hurt him if he did not move, so he was protecting himself, according to the complaint.

A La Crosse County jury found him guilty April 16 of felony aggravated battery and robbery as a habitual criminal.

Gruenke sought a six- to eight-year prison term, while defense attorney Rick Niemeier requested probation so Brown could obtain a mental health assessment and treatment.

Brown did not make a statement at sentencing.
.




 Advertisement 
 Tell us what you think...

 Comments »

High Plains Drifter wrote on Sep 19, 2008 5:05 AM:

" Alan....what a fokking idiotic statwmwnt "

dakota kid wrote on Sep 18, 2008 9:46 PM:

" Look at what the defense attorney recommended!
What a joke! Some people just don't get it!
Sure, everyone has rights and are innocent until proven guilty but certain defense attorneys are known for their questionable tactics to prove a guilty person innocent! "

RanDomino wrote on Sep 18, 2008 5:23 PM:

" "What's this guy's problem?"
Why is no one asking that? You just condemn him. I'll bet most of you think you're Christians. "

Freddie Wisco wrote on Sep 18, 2008 3:39 PM:

" Scumbag commits a violent act on a 70 year old man and then calls racism? Execute this loser, he'll contribute nothing. "

womanking wrote on Sep 18, 2008 12:10 PM:

" First of all, Alan- What part of hitting an elderly man off his bike and then stealing it, lacks violence?

But yes, the justice system never seems to give sentences in proportion to the crime. Example: One of the men responsible for beating the man to death at the bar in Readstown received 5 years in jail, I think?

Less than a year ago I remember a case of a group of at least 5 men in La Crosse accused of repeatedly gang raping an under age girl after forcing her to take drugs. 5 years each I think for them as well. Things never seem to be just or fair in the end. "

jam262003 wrote on Sep 18, 2008 9:40 AM:

" What..? are you guys serious....? this guy deserves this NOT at all am I saying that other crimes need better outcomes but this guy hit and stoled from a *70* year old man. wait til it happens to your mom dad grandma etc then lets see your reaction. get a life hopefully you or someone you know is not ever in a situation like this. im glad that this guy got what he got and im glad the guy on the bike is fine now sorry you all dont "

nana3 wrote on Sep 18, 2008 9:39 AM:

" Hopefully this will be the judge that resides over the Book trial! Killing an innocent newborn is worse than assaulting an older man. The poor baby never had a chance. "

Sconni Fan wrote on Sep 18, 2008 9:09 AM:

" You think maybe the judge took into account this guys criminal history??? Makes sense to me. "

Movin Out wrote on Sep 18, 2008 8:43 AM:

" Wow, this guy hits ONE old man in the face with a gas can, steals his bike and gets 7 years in prison! Another guy robs TWENTY SEVEN people by charging them full price for a funeral, then hits every law-abiding,
tax-paying citizen right between the eyes for $55,000, with a Ink Pen, then, admits he his a felon, and gets 3 days in jail. GO FIGURE ???????
***He commited 3 Felonies*** "

Sconni Fan wrote on Sep 18, 2008 7:53 AM:

" Hey Alan, take a look at this guys past.

1. Battery by Prisoners - The defendant agreed to be held responsible for and have the court consider the charge(s) when sentencing for another crime.
2. Robbery with Use of Force
3. Aggravated Battery
**All 3 are felonies**

Assualting an elderly man is considered violent and he is a repeat offender. "

Wheezer wrote on Sep 18, 2008 4:07 AM:

" I guess the guy should have just followed the bicyclist home. Then he could have just put a bomb in his mailbox. Because then he would have just gotten 90 day at home with an ankle bracelet! Or better yet, he could have stolen his identity and gotten money out of him for a few years. Then he would only have to pay a fine and no jail time. He obviously isn't a tribune reader, or he would have known what crimes are "OK" to do in LaCrosse county and not get any jail time..... ;-) "

Alan wrote on Sep 18, 2008 2:39 AM:

" Fantastic. Again, non-violent personal-use drug offenders/addicts get more time then violent, repeat offenders. "


PLEASE NOTE: Comments on stories that frequently update through the day disappear with each update.
The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the La Crosse Tribune.

Click here to report offensive or inappropriate comments. Please identify the comment you're concerned about, the story to which the comment was attached, the date of the comment and the person who made the post.

 Post a comment (150 word limit) »

Log In - If you have already signed up with The LaCrosse Tribune, please sign in now!
Member ID:
*Password:
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Sign Up - To encourage intelligent and meaningful conversation, The LaCrosse Tribune requires all commenters to register before posting comments. It's quick, it's easy, and it's free! Just fill in the information below to get started!

**Your Member ID and password will be required to log in. Your comments will appear under your user name.

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
E-mail Address:
Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

First Name:
Last Name:
Company:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
 

NEWSPAPER ADS

LACROSSE JOBS

TOP HOMES

HomeSeller
Top Homes



 
 
Dailies
La Crosse Tribune
Winona Daily News

Weeklies
Coulee News
Courier Life News
The Chronicle
Houston County News
Tomah Journal
Vernon Broadcaster
Westby Times

Regional
Inside Preps
My LIVE! Entertainment
Best of River Valley
Business Report
Healthy Living Today
Strictly Golf
River Valley Bike Trails
River Valley Blogs
River Valley Outdoors

Shoppers
Tri-County Foxxy

Marketplace
Newspaper Ads
Local Website Directory
7 Rivers Rentals
HomeSeller
Wheels Website
Outdoor Motors
Work For You

Portals
La Crosse NET
Winona NET

Classifieds
River Valley Classifieds

Links
Lee Enterprises

About Us | Classifieds | Contact Us | Terms of Use | F.A.Q. | Privacy Policy | Requests | Search | RSS | Videos | Advertiser Directory | Add to My Yahoo!
Copyright © 1997 - 2008 The La Crosse Tribune. All rights reserved.
Material from this site may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. A Lee Enterprises subsidiary.