By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — A three-week jury trial has been scheduled next June in Dunn County Circuit Court for a 38-year-old man charged in connection with a homicide in the Town of Dunn last November.
Ryan L. Steinhoff appeared before Judge Christina Mayer August 16 by video from the Dunn County jail while attorneys Matthew Krische and Ryan J. Moertel appeared in court for the defendant.
According to online court records, one of the attorneys told the court that two different evaluations for not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect have been filed with differing opinions.
Dunn County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Maki requested that a jury trial be scheduled next spring.
Steinhoff is charged with first degree intentional homicide, along with Chad D. Turgeson, age 37 and Ashley A. Gunder, age 24, in connection with the death of Bruce E. McGuigan, age 37, of Hayward, at N2564 440th Street in the Town of Dunn November 17, 2020.
The charge of first degree intentional homicide also has three modifiers: use of a dangerous weapon, as a repeat offender and as a party to a crime.
Steinhoff is charged,too, with three felony counts of bail jumping and a misdemeanor count of retail theft as a party to a crime and as a repeat offender.
Krische notified the court on March 5 that Steinhoff wished to change his plea from “not guilty” to “not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.”
Section 971.15 of the Wisconsin Statutes defines not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, which is also referred to as “NGI.” A defendant can be considered NGI if the defendant lacks the capacity to understand his or her conduct was wrong and is so ill, he or she cannot understand what has been done is illegal. A defendant also can be considered NGI if the person is so ill, he or she cannot control his or her actions.
In the case of a trial where a defendant has pleaded NGI, the prosecution must prove the person is guilty of the crime, and it is then up to the defendant to convince the jury that he or she is not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
Steinhoff has filed a claim against Dunn County for $2 million because he alleges that the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department inappropriately used his mental health records and intercepted confidential attorney-client communications.
The county’s liability insurance carrier, Wisconsin County Mutual Insurance Corporation, recommended that the Dunn County Board deny the claim so the county could continue with a defense.
The Dunn County Board denied the claim at the July 28 meeting.
According to the background information included with the resolution denying the claim, “No action on this claim may be brought against Dunn County after six months from the date of service of notice of the disallowance, pursuant to Wis. Stat. 893.80.”
According to the criminal complaint, George Welch told investigators that while he had been in town, four people had broken into his house. Welch said he knew two of the people. One was “Chad” — later identified as Chad Turgeson — and “Little Red,” identified as Ashley Gunder. Welch said he did not know another individual, who seemed to be in charge, and that he also did not know the victim.
Welch said he was told not to go to the bedroom because someone was being “schooled” and that he had heard noises coming from the bedroom.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy on the deceased, and the pathologist determined the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries.
Judge James Peterson set a cash bail of $500,000 for each of the suspects on November 25, 2020.
Steinhoff is scheduled for another court hearing in Dunn County on October 4 at 11:30 a.m.
