GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Richard Sotka was convicted Monday of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide for the deaths of Rhonda Cegelski and Paula O’Connor at a Green Bay home in Jan. 2023.
The jury deliberated about an hour before returning the verdicts. It asked a single question during deliberations, requesting to see one piece of evidence.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 20. Sotka faces two mandatory life prison terms, but Judge Beau Liegeois can choose to set a date Sotka could first ask for parole, or decide he would never be eligible for release.
Sotka was also convicted of five counts of bail jumping, as well as a count of criminal damage to property for cutting off an electronic monitoring bracelet.
The trial started a week ago. Prosecutors and the defense wrapped up their cases Monday, with Sotka not taking the stand in his own defense.
Sotka was charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. However, the jury was also given the option of returning a verdict on first-degree reckless homicide counts instead.
According to a criminal complaint, Sotka admitted to the murders. He went to the residence and told police he was ‘humiliated’ at the scene there, so he killed the women.
In addition, he was charged with attacking a jail correctional officer.
Sotka was arrested in Mississippi County, Ark., the same day the bodies were discovered and waived extradition to Wisconsin on Feb. 6. Brown County Sheriff’s deputies traveled to Arkansas to bring him back to Wisconsin.
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