Friday, June 13, 2025
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Friday, June 13, 2025

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

Susan Crawford Gave Work Release Jail to Illegal Immigrant 4th Offense Drunk Driver

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Dane County Judge Susan Crawford sentenced a fourth-offense drunk driver who was an illegal immigrant to work-release jail, just months after giving him a break on a separate domestic-violence case, Wisconsin Right Now has documented.

The total sentence that Crawford gave Armando Cadena-Valencia on Feb. 20, 2019? Only four months in the Huber Jail as a condition of 2 years probation. She withheld any other sentence.

She could have given him up to 6 years in prison for the class H felony. The short sentence came even though his 3rd offense OWI occurred just eight months before the 4th. Crawford agreed to dismiss three other charges, including resisting an officer because police say Cadena-Valencia provided a false name.

Susan crawford

A year before, the same illegal immigrant also came before Crawford, this time on a domestic-violence related battery charge. That time, she gave Cadena-Valencia probation, with no jail time at all. His probation was eventually revoked, and she then ordered him to serve eight months in work-release jail. Court Commissioner Scott McAndrew gave him a $500 signature bond in that case. The revoked sentence was “deemed served.”

Armando cadena valencia
Armando cadena valencia

Court Commissioner Jason Hanson gave Cadena Valencia bail of just $500 cash for the 4th offense OWI. His bail was amended to $100 by Judge Nicholas McNamara, court records show. Crawford then inherited the case and made no move to increase his bail. The defendant required an interpreter in court. Court records indicate he remained in custody, however.

“The Court has found that the defendant’s household income is no more than 150% of the federal nonfarm poverty guideline,” a Crawford order notation says. “Therefore it is Ordered that an Ignition Interlock Device (IID) shall be installed and maintained for 50% of the normal costs.”

We came upon the Cadena-Valencia cases through an open records request for all of Crawford’s cases as a judge. We then confirmed Cadena Valencia’s immigration status through an open records request. ICE informed the Dane County Sheriff’s Department that the agency was going to pick up Cadena Valencia at the “completion of his sentence” and take him to Dodge County’s detention center, which is where ICE holds illegal immigrants in Wisconsin. We also asked for any ICE holds requested or rejected, but Dane County did not produce any.

Susan crawford

We’ve found a pattern of Crawford giving short jail sentences to repeat drunk drivers. Even 6th offense drunk drivers have escaped prison time from Crawford.

Crawford, a liberal, is running for a seat on the state Supreme Court against former Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel, who is a former DA and is a Waukesha County Judge. He has been endorsed by dozens of top law enforcement officials in the race. She has received the endorsement of the Dane County Sheriff, who has refused to honor ICE holds even for violent offenders. We’ve also documented her short sentences for child molesters, a shooter, the Langdon Street attacker of a UW-Madison student, and more.

According to the criminal complaint in the fourth offense OWI, a City of Madison police officer pulled over Cadena-Valencia on Aug. 13, 2018, on East Olin Avenue in Madison. Cadena-Valencia stated that he had three beers and was coming from work and gave the name Enrique Serrano. He did not have a wallet or identification.

Another officer arrived and noticed a bank card in the name of Armando Cadena-Valencia in the car. Cadena-Valencia said it wasn’t his. The officer ran the information and saw that the suspect had a Wisconsin Department of Transportation photo ID with the defendant’s photograph. His eyes were very glassy and bloodshot.

A breathalyzer registered .20. He was driving with a revoked license. His lengthy driving history of violations is attached to the complaint.

See the criminal complaint here:

2018CF001673COMP3818675

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Wisconsin Budget Negotiations Reach Impasse Between Evers, Legislature

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

In early May, the Joint Committee on Finance took 612 items out of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal, including Medicaid expansion in the state, department creations and tax exemptions.

Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated that the proposal would spend down more than $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted.

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DOJ Begins California Title IX Investigation Over ‘Trans’ Boys Dominating Girls’ Sports

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced it is investigating California for violating Title IX by allowing males to participate in female student sports.

“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”

In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning males from participating in female student sports, and he has threatened to block California's federal funding for continuing to defy his order. With California facing deficits in the tens of billions of dollars each year, it's unclear how the state would offset any losses or pauses in federal funding.

Notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted conservative pundit Charlie Kirk on his podcast and told Kirk that he thinks it’s “deeply unfair” that boys are participating in girls’ sports.

When asked later at a press conference what this means for state policy, Newsom demurred, painting the matter as a marginal, non-issue not worth his time.

“You're talking about a very small number of people, a very small number of athletes, and my responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time,” said Newsom.

The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs student sports in California, has since responded to Trump’s threat by announcing a new pilot program to allow girls who otherwise would have qualified for sports finals had the finalist spots in girls’ sports not been taken by transgender-identifying boys to participate in said finals.

Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972 to ensure that schools could not discriminate against female students. It requires they be provided with equal opportunities to engage in athletics, extracurriculars and education.

DOJ’s letter of interest says it is investigating whether California’s Assembly Bill 1266, which requires transgender-identifying students to be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identities, violates Title IX.

“As a result of CIF’s policy, California’s top-ranked girls’ triple jumper, and second-ranked girls’ long-jumper, is a boy,” wrote the DOJ. “As recently as May 17, this male athlete was allowed to take winning titles that rightfully belong to female athletes in both events.”

“This male athlete will now be allowed to compete against those female athletes again for a state title in long, triple, and high jump,” continued the DOJ. “Other high school female athletes have alleged that they were likewise robbed of podium positions and spots on their teams after they were forced to compete against males.”

Should the DOJ find California is in violation of Title IX, it says it will “take appropriate action to eliminate that discrimination, including seeking injunctive relief.”

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