Over 800 convicted felons are now asking Gov. Tony Evers to shorten their prison sentences under a radical commutation process that the outgoing Democrat created by executive order just months ago. On Friday, Evers’ hand-picked Commutation Advisory Board will kick off its first meeting by weighing early release for six killers, including four men convicted of first-degree intentional homicide and one double murder.
Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, released the numbers Wednesday after obtaining the applications through an open records request. “Over 800 felons are asking Gov. Evers to end their sentence early,” Wanggaard said. “On Friday, Evers’ Board is considering releasing 6 murderers early. 4 convicted of 1st-Degree Intentional Murder, and 1 convicted of two counts.”
Every district attorney who prosecuted these cases opposes the commutations. The board plans to deliberate in closed session, shielding the process from public view.
Let’s be clear: these aren’t minor offenders or technicalities up for review. Here’s the lineup:
- Daniel Cerney, convicted of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in Monroe County. At 16, he and an accomplice lured 51-year-old William Leis to a rural Tomah farmhouse, shot him seven times, then hunted down and killed 85-year-old Evelyn Leis as she hid in a bathroom. They stole cash, guns and ammunition. Cerney later admitted in a restorative justice session, “I had a .22 rifle in my hands, and I shot the man. Numerous times. Until he fell.”
- Michael Maldonado, sentenced to life for first-degree intentional homicide in the notorious 1994 Diane Borchardt murder-for-hire plot. At 15, Maldonado was part of the group hired by Jefferson County teacher Diane Borchardt to kill her husband Ruben during a bitter divorce. Ruben was found shot in his basement and died of his wounds.
- Mighty Howell, convicted of first-degree intentional homicide in Milwaukee after a random 1993 drive-by. After watching the violent film Menace II Society, Howell and others targeted Greendale businessman and Air Force veteran Roger Buchholz, 50. Howell pounded on Buchholz’s car window, demanded his belongings, then fired four shots as Buchholz drove away, killing him. The judge called it two kids deciding “to see a movie and write their own sequel.”
- Sabir Wilcher, convicted of first-degree intentional homicide while armed. At 15, Wilcher shot 20-year-old Elvis Anderson three times in the back of the head from the backseat of a car during a planned robbery, then dumped the body in an alley and took drugs from the victim’s pocket.
- Demian McDermott, convicted of first-degree intentional homicide in a 1991 Milwaukee drug-deal murder. McDermott arranged a marijuana deal with 19-year-old Francisco Questell, lured him into the woods, and watched as an accomplice executed him.
- Natalie Murphy, convicted of first-degree reckless homicide after fatally shooting her boyfriend in front of their infant child in Juneau County.
These are just the warm-up acts for Evers’ board this Friday. The broader list of more than 800 applicants includes far worse. Among them is Curtis Walker, the man who ambushed and assassinated Milwaukee Police Officer William Robertson in 1994 with a high-powered rifle equipped with a telescopic sight. Robertson’s wife was seven months pregnant with twins who would never meet their father. Walker is supposed to be locked up for life, with parole not even possible until he’s 94. The Milwaukee Police Association rightly calls any talk of clemency a slap in the face to
