By Shereen Siewert
The lone suspect in a May shooting that left one man critically injured was formally arraigned Friday in Marathon County Circuit Court.
Sergio Retana, Jr., of Weston faces charges of attempted first degree homicide, first degree recklessly endangering safety, possession of a firearm as a felon, carrying a handgun where alcohol is sold, operating a firearm while intoxicated and carrying a concealed weapon. The charges were filed four days after an early morning shooting at Big Dan & Space’s Kelly Club in Weston.
In a criminal hearing the arraignment is the process when are defendant is read the charges filed and when the defendant responds to the charges with a plea. Retana on Friday entered a plea of not guilty.
Retana, 31, has a long criminal history in Iowa that includes convictions for theft, making false licenses, escape, and other charges. He had an open warrant for his arrest in Iowa at the time of his arrest in Wisconsin.
Police were called at about 12:30 a.m. May 12 to Kelly Club, 4810 Ross Ave., for a report of gunshots fired. Witnesses say Retana and the victim in the shooting were involved in an altercation that escalated into gunfire. Patrons at the bar wrestled Retana to the ground and disarmed him, then held him until officers could arrive.
The victim was rushed to Aspirus Wausau Hospital, where he underwent surgery for life-threatening injuries.
Attempted first-degree homicide is a class A felony in Wisconsin, which carries a maximum penalty of up to 60 years in the Wisconsin Prison System. Attempted homicide is charged out only when a suspect intends to commit a homicide and tries to carry out the homicide but, for some reason, fails to finish the crime.
Retana, who remains in the Marathon County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond, was bound over for trial Oct. 4. A status conference is set for Dec. 13.
