Slaughter found guilty of reckless homicide

Sentencing is scheduled for May 6

Jessie J. Slaughter, 40, was found guilty of one count of first-degree reckless homicide at his plea hearing on Feb. 11.

The plea hearing was originally scheduled for Jan. 30; however, the court pushed it back to February due to Slaughter's alleged confusion about the difference between status and plea hearings.

"It became apparent to the court that Mr. Slaughter had some questions or issues that appropriately required further discussion with counsel," said Crawford County Judge Lukas Steiner.

Slaughter pleaded no contest to the charge. This is amended from the original charge of first-degree intentional homicide.

The difference between the two is that intentional homicide means the perpetrator intended to cause someone's death, while reckless homicide does not mean there was an intent to kill someone, but the perpetrator disregarded risk to another person's life.

Steiner found Slaughter guilty of the amended charge. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 6.

Crawford County District Attorney Andrew Burdick, on behalf of the State, recommended Slaughter serve 25 years in prison followed by 15 years of extended supervision.

First-degree reckless homicide carries a maximum sentence of 40 years imprisonment and 20 years supervision. First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.

Burdick said the state was not asking for any specific conditions as part of that extended supervision other than a no-contact order for the victim's family.

Slaughter entered not guilty pleas during his preliminary hearing on Dec. 3, 2024, and arraignment on Dec. 17 of the same year.

Previously, a trial was set for March 17; however, the court received a letter from Slaughter’s counsel requesting the jury trials be removed and a plea hearing scheduled on Dec. 26, 2025, according to the Wisconsin Circuit Court website.

Slaughter pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in December 2024. He was arrested at a residence near Platteville on Oct. 26 after law enforcement executed a search warrant on the property.

Between Oct. 25 and 26, multiple people who knew Slaughter told police he had either admitted to hurting Welsch or killing someone, according to the criminal complaint. Police also said that more than one person identified Slaughter exiting Welsch’s apartment from video taken by the apartment complex’s security system.

Dr. Robert Corliss, a pathologist, conducted Welsch’s autopsy on Oct. 28 and said the cause of death was likely strangulation.

Welsch’s body also displayed other signs of violence, including lacerations, bruising and a puncture wound around his neck, according to police.

Slaughter allegedly told police he had hit Welsch twice during a dispute but claimed it was done to defend himself.