Jackson Vogel leaves a Brown County courtroom Oct. 15, 2024, after entering an "insanity plea" to charges he killed his cellmate Micah Laureano at Green Bay Correctional Institution. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A June 2 trial date was set Monday for Jackson Vogel, the Green Bay Correctional Institution inmate who allegedly killed his cellmate.
Vogel, 25, faces one count of first-degree intentional homicide for the Aug. 27 death of Micah Laureano at the prison in Allouez. The charges include hate crime enhancers, as Vogel allegedly targeted Laureano due to his race and sexual preference. Vogel told police he choked Laureano.
Vogel pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, sometimes called the insanity plea.
In court Monday, defense attorney Ann Larson said their psychiatric expert’s finding does not support that plea — but Vogel wants to pursue that defense in any case.
If the state wants to have their own psychiatric expert examine Vogel, they could do so, Judge Donald Zuidmulder said Monday.
If the case goes to trial with the not guilty by reason of mental disease plea, the jury would first determine if Vogel is guilty. If so, a second phase of the trial would determine if he suffered from a mental disease. If so, he would be committed to a secure psychiatric facility. If the jury rejects the insanity plea, Vogel would be sentenced to prison.
A five-day trial is planned.
Laureano had 18 months left on a three-year sentence for crimes in Waukesha and Columbia counties that include robbery use of force, first-degree recklessly endangering safety and substantial battery. Vogel is serving a 20-year sentence for trying to kill his mother in Two Rivers when he was 16.
In a separate legal action, Laureano’s mother, Phyllis Laureano, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit which named GBCI Warden Christopher Stevens and Wisconsin Department of Corrections Secretery Jared Hoy as defendants.
The suit claims prison officials were negligent in their duties when placing Laureano in a cell with Vogel. The state has not responded to the suit, and no hearings have been scheduled.
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