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Pribbernow gets prison

Suspect convicted in pedestrian’s death

Judge Raymond Huber sentenced Michael G. Pribbernow, 47, Waupaca, to five years in prison Tuesday, April 16.

Initially charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, Pribbernow entered Alford Pleas to hit-and-run causing death and a third OWI.

Although the Alford Plea is a guilty plea, the defendant maintains his innocence, but recognizes that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict him.

Pribbernow was charged for the death of 18-year-old Timothy Cruse II, of Amherst.

Cruse died after being struck by a vehicle in the early morning hours of Saturday, July 28, 2018.

He was walking along Golke Road between County Trunk Q and Knight Lane in the town of Farmington. His body was found shortly after 3 a.m.

The autopsy found that Cruse had a .24 blood-alcohol level at the time of his death, Pribbernow’s defense attorney, Tom Johnson, said Tuesday in court.

Pribbernow told investigators he spent much of July 27 drinking.

When asked how much he had to drink during the day, Pribbernow reportedly said, “Well, I know it was $140 worth of liquor.”

Pribbernow estimated he drank about 10 beers and four or five shots, according to the criminal complaint.

Following his five years of initial confinement, Pribbernow will spend five years on extended supervision.

“No amount of incarceration can compensate for the loss of A.J.,” District Attorney Veronica Isherwood said. “The community will be safe from Pribbernow’s drinking and driving for five years and hopefully the extended supervision time will allow Mr. Pribbernow to show can maintain sobriety out of a confined setting. There’s no such thing as justice when we have a dead 18 year old. This is as close as our system can come.”

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