WASHINGTON (TNND) — A Milwaukee County Judge faces up to five years in prison after being convicted for felony obstruction stemming from attempting to assist an illegal immigrant flee from plain clothed ICE agents serving the man a warrant.
After six hours of deliberation, a jury found Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan guilty on one count of felony obstruction.
Dugan was acquitted on a misdemeanor count of concealing an individual to prevent arrest, giving her defense attorneys hope as they move forward to appeal her conviction.
“While we are disappointed in today’s outcome, the failure of the prosecution to secure convictions on both counts demonstrates the opportunity we have to clear Judge Dugan’s name and show she did nothing wrong in this matter,” Dugan’s defense team said in a statement.
“We have planned for this potential outcome and our defense of Judge Dugan is just beginning. This trial required considerable resources to prepare for and public support for Judge Dugan’s defense fund is critical as we prepare for the next phase of this defense.”
On April 18, Dugan assisted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal immigrant from Mexico who was previously charged with domestic abuse, battery, strangulation and suffocation, in escaping through a backdoor in her courtroom once learning that ICE was in the building. However, ICE agents were able to run after him and arrest Flores-Ruiz.
Dugan was later arrested and charged. She was suspended from work; however, she continued to collect paychecks from her roughly $175,000 a year salary. Her guilty verdict now prevents Dugan from holding public office. But as the defense plans to appeal her guilty verdict, it is uncertain if she will be terminated from her position.
Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin Brad Schimel, who oversees the district which prosecuted Dagan said the prosecutors “weren’t trying to make an example out of anyone.”
“This was necessary to hold Judge Dugan accountable in our assessment because of the action she took,” he said.
“This was necessary to hold Judge Dugan accountable in our assessment because of the action she took.”
Last month, the Department of Homeland Security announced that Flores-Ruiz was removed from the country.
“Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a previously removed illegal alien has a laundry list of violent criminal charges, including strangulation and suffocation, battery, and domestic abuse. Judge Hannah Dugan’s actions to obstruct this violent criminal’s arrest take ‘activist judge’ to a whole new meaning,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin.
“Thanks to the brave men and women of ICE law enforcement, this criminal is OUT of our country. If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you, and remove you from our country. That’s a promise.”
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