
VIROQUA, Wis. – Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports on August 31, 2023, Jesse James Britt, 48, was transported from the Cass County Jail, in Fargo, ND, to the Vernon County Detention Center. The transfer was pursuant to an arrest warrant issued because Britt failed to appear in Vernon County Circuit Court, on November 29, 2022, for a plea hearing, on nine burglary and theft-related charges. At the time of the missed court appearance, Britt was free on a $3,000.00 cash bail bond, posted on September 13, 2022.
Charges from original Vernon County 2021 case
A bail hearing was held September 1, 2023, and Britt is being held on a $10,000 Cash Bond. Britt is due back in Vernon County Circuit Court on September 6, at 8:30 a.m. Britt waived the formal extradition process.
The original investigation for which the five felony and four misdemeanor charges
were filed continues by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Torgerson stated he would
also like to thank the Cass County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance throughout the
investigation.
Jesse Britt is also facing felony Identity theft, felony bail jumping, and misdemeanor
theft charges that were filed with Vernon County Circuit Court in February 2023,
following an investigation by the Viroqua Police Department. Britt had not previously
appeared in court on this case, in which an arrest warrant was also issued, until the
September 1, 2023 hearing when bond was addressed in both cases.
New charges filed in February of 2023
Sheriff Torgerson will also request that Vernon County District Attorney Angela PalmerFisher petition the court to order the previously posted cash bail be forfeited.
Information about the 2021 case that Britt was originally charged for is posted below.
Previous press release from Vernon County Sheriff John Spears from March of 2021
Vernon County John Spears reports that on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at approximately 12:02 a.m., the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office received a phone call from an AT&T employee reporting entry and vandalism to their communications facility, along US Highway 14, rural Westby, WI, in the town of Coon.
The first deputy sheriff arrived on scene, discovered the fence was compromised, and located two males inside the fenced-in area.
Both males were taken into custody without incident. The males were identified as Benjamin Lee Britt, 47, and Jesse James Britt, age 46, both from Viroqua, WI. Burglarious tools were recovered at the scene. The investigation continued throughout the day resulting in the arrest of Shaila Kay Davis, 49, Frazee, MN. A red colored, 2002 Toyota Tacoma pickup truck, with Iowa license plates was impounded.
Evidence obtained on March 2 was consistent with a similar incident at the same AT&T facility that was reported on February 16, 2021.
Sheriff Spears is urging anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Office or your local law enforcement agency. The Sheriff’s Office can be reached via telephone at 608-637-2123, or email at vcso@vernoncounty.org You may also submit an anonymous tip at www.p3tips.com Investigators are also interested in other incidents that may not have been reported.
This case remains under investigation and more arrests could be forthcoming. Criminal charges will be sought through the Vernon County District Attorney’s Office.
Editors note: On March 4, 2022 Benjamin Lee Britt pleaded no contest to attempt theft-movable property, criminal damage to property, possession of burglarious tools in that case. Benjamin Britt was found guilty by Vernon County Circuit Court Judge Darcy Rood and was given a sentence of two years of probation. Benjamin Britt has also been prosecuted in numerous counties for drug related and bail jumping charges, both before and after, the Vernon County theft case.
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