The Milwaukee man arrested for allegedly shooting two Milwaukee police officers — one of them fatally — has two misdemeanors and was arrested in 2024.
One of Tremaine D. Jones’ previous cases found him in front of Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, who herself is facing federal prosecution for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant escape apprehension by ICE.
Milwaukee police Officers Kendall Corder and Christopher McCray were shot during what has been described as an ambush on June 27 in an alley in the 2200 block of North 24th Place.
McCray suffered non-life threatening injuries and is expected to recover.
Corder died. He was the sixth line of duty death of a Milwaukee police officer since 2018, and the 68th in the department’s 169-year history.
Jones was charged July 1 with first-degree intentional homicide and attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and could get life in prison if he is convicted.
What is Tremaine Jones criminal background?
Jones has been arrested before, court records show.
He initially was charged with two misdemeanors in connection with a 2021 incident for being inside a stolen vehicle and later fleeing from police. He was 17 at the time.
Those charges were later dismissed as part of a deferred prosecution agreement, according to court records.
Tremaine Jones was charged in 2021. What happened in that case and what was Judge Hannah Dugan’s role in it?
Jones has been arrested before, as a teenager, court records show.
He faced two misdemeanor charges in a 2021 incident for being inside a stolen vehicle and later fleeing from police. He was 17 at the time. Court records show those charges eventually were dismissed as part of a deferred prosecution agreement. He was charged Sept. 19, 2021.
As part of the agreement, Jones was ordered to not break the law and to contact his lawyer if he has contact with police that ends in an arrest or a citation.
He also was ordered to keep a job or go to school, complete 30 hours of community service and write an apology letter to the vehicle owner.
Court records show Dugan oversaw the initial hearings on the agreement, but that Jones’ case was later transferred to Circuit Judge Carolina Stark in December 2023. He entered the deferred prosecution Dec. 6, 2023.
Court records say Stark issued a bench warrant in November 2024 when Jones failed to show up for court. The warrant ultimately was canceled in December 2024 after Joel Rosenthal, Jones’ lawyer, gave an explanation for his absence, court records show. Court records shows the case was dismissed with prejudice on April 8 of this year by Stark.
What is deferred prosecution?
In Wisconsin, defendants can enter a deferred prosecution agreement, sometimes referred to as a DPA,
Such agreements are designed for individuals who have committed less serious offenses, offering them a chance to avoid a criminal conviction.
Defendants must plead guilty to the crime, keep a clean record for a specified period and fulfill court-ordered conditions in return for a dismissal or lesser charges.
As part of DPAs, the prosecutor agrees to postpone or dismiss criminal charges, if the defendant plead guilty to the crime and meets certain conditions within a specified time window.
Often first-time offenders can qualify for DPAs.
The timeframe can range anywhere from six to 36 months. DPA officials have discretion to shorten the length of a participant’s agreement if a defendant has made significant progress towards the agreed-upon goals.
Other brushes with the law that did not result in charges
Jones also was arrested for disorderly conduct related to domestic abuse on Jan. 20, 2024, according to arrest records maintained by the state Department of Justice.
Court records the Journal Sentinel reviewed for the 2021 incident, however, do not refer to that arrest and also do not show charges were filed following that arrest. It’s not unusual for charges to not occur after arrests.
What’s the latest in the homicide case against Tremaine Jones?
Jones appeared before Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Barry Phillips for an initial court appearance on July 1 on homicide and attempted-homicide charges.
He remains in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail. His bail was set at $500,000.
Jones is expected to be in court again July 9 for a preliminary hearing.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here’s a look at Judge Dugan’s role in Tremaine Jones’ criminal past
Reporting by Chris Ramirez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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