By Kim McDarison

A 23-year-old University of Wisconsin-Whitewater student is scheduled to appear in Walworth County Circuit Court today in front of judge Estee Scholtz.

The defendant, who is accused of killing a fellow UW-Whitewater student, 21-year-old Kara Welsh, according to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website is scheduled for an “initial appearance” at 1:15 p.m.

According to docket entries appearing on the website Friday, the defendant, Chad T. Richards, was in court Tuesday, also appearing before Scholtz, during which time bail was set at $1 million.

According to the website, Richards, who has been in custody since Saturday, appeared in court through video feed, along with his attorney, Mackenzie Renner, who also appeared via video conference.

Walworth County District Attorney Zeke Wiedenfeld appeared in person representing the state.

Court records noted that family members of the victim were in court Tuesday and made a statement.

During the hearing, the defense attorney asked for a reduction in the bond, which was denied by the court.

Along with the cash bond, the following conditions were set by the court: the defendant shall not possess or consume alcohol; the defendant is not to enter any bars, taverns or liquor stores; the defendant shall not possess or use illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia; the defendant shall not possess any firearms, ammunition or other weapons; the defendant is to be booked and printed within 24 hours; 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 the defendant’s behalf; the term ‘no contact’ is hereby defined as through the mail, telephone, by way of electronic device, in  person, or through a third party.

The victim’s residence was defined as the residences of the victim’s family or deceased victim’s residence.

Additionally, the court instructed: the defendant shall personally ensure that payments are made under any order for income withholding if the court appoints an attorney for the defendant.

Further, the judge ordered, the defendant shall not have physical contact with UW-Whitewater campus, but the defendant may have telephone or electronic contact with UW-Whitewater.

The cash bond, the docket reports, was signed Wednesday and the criminal complaint against the defendant was placed on the docket Friday.

A representative in the Walworth County Clerk of Courts office confirmed Friday that the defendant remains in custody.

The defendant will face charges of 1st degree intentional homicide, a Felony A, with a modifier of use of a dangerous weapon.