By Kim McDarison

A Whitewater man has been charged with false imprisonment, strangulation, battery and disorderly conduct following his arrest by members of the Whitewater Police Department last week.

Yefferson Guzman Rodriguez, 18, was arrested Monday, Oct. 16, after police conducted a search for the suspect after receiving reports that he had allegedly held a female acquaintance against her will for multiple days and held a gun to her head.

According to information released on the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website, Guzman Rodriguez appeared before Judge David Reddy through video conference on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at which time a cash bond of $100,000 was set with the following conditions: the defendant will not in any way contact or attempt to contact any victim(s) listed, and will avoid their residence/place of employment or any place they are located, and will avoid causing any other person, other than defendant’s attorney, from doing so on defendant’s behalf. 

Additionally, the court stipulated that the term “no contact” is defined as through the mail, by telephone, by way of electronic device, in person, or through a third party.  Further, the defendant will not possess any firearms, ammunition or other weapons, and will personally ensure that payments are made under any order for income withholding if the court appoints an attorney for the defendant.

Charges filed against Guzman Rodriguez include one felony H count of false imprisonment, one felony H count of strangulation and suffocation, one misdemeanor A count of battery, and one misdemeanor B count of disorderly conduct.

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, Guzman Rodriguez, along with his attorney Ryan Polczinski, was back in court, appearing again through video conference, this time before Judge Phillip Koss.

During the initial appearance, the defendant was given a copy of the criminal complaint against him and the charges and penalties were explained.

A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Monday, Oct. 30, at 2 p.m.

Charges filed against Guzman Rodriguez carry the following penalties: Class H felony, a fine up to $10,000 and/or up to six years in prison, or both; Class A misdemeanor, a fine up to $10,000 and/or nine months in jail, or both, and a Class B misdemeanor, a fine not to exceed $1,000 or imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both. 

An earlier story about Guzman Rodriguez’s arrest is here: https://whitewaterwise.com/potentially-armed-suspect-sought-by-police-is-in-custody/.