GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — With a plea deal in the works, next week’s trial for convicted double-murderer Richard Sotka’s charges for allegedly attacking a jail correctional officer was postponed Friday.
Although Sotka is serving back-to-back life sentences with no chance of parole for the murders of Rhonda Cegelski and Paula O’Connor, prosecutors are moving forward with the battery by a prisoner count. Sotka has pleaded not guilty.
In court Friday, attorneys said a plea deal is likely to resolve the case. As a result, the trial set for Wednesday was canceled. Sotka returns to court Dec. 6, likely to enter a plea. If not, a Dec. 11 trial is scheduled.
The incident happened Oct. 12, 2023. The complaint quotes the correctional officer saying:
“Sotka screamed something, and that is when Sotka struck me for the first time with a fist. His fist hit me on my left ear. The strike hurt my ear and I saw stars. I yelled, “What are you doing?” I heard Officer AG call for backup on the radio. Sotka continued to strike me over and over again with his fist and we moved back. It felt like all the strikes were on my head. I did not give Sotka permission to strike me, cause me pain, or cause me harm in any way. At one point I went into a defensive position as he kept hitting me. I finally was able to extend my arms and stop his strikes from hitting me. Officer AG arrived, and I felt Sotka’s level of tension drop,” according to the complaint.
Jail staff members immediately responded and were able to subdue Sotka and get him restrained. The officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment and was released later that same morning.
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