Sentencing delayed due to new criminal case

Birnamwood woman accused in high-speed chase remains in jail
By: 
Lee Pulaski
City Editor

Theresa Gunderson was about to reach a plea deal with the Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on charges of fleeing and eluding officers and first-degree recklessly endangering safety, among other things, but that has been quashed in light of new charges being filed against her.

Gunderson, 42, a Birnamwood resident, was due to appear in court June 28 for her final pre-trial, according to court records, and the plea deal would have been addressed then. However, according to Assistant District Attorney Joseph Kaupie, one of the stipulations of the plea deal was to not commit any further crimes.

That was apparently violated as a result, although online court records have not shown any additional charges filed against Gunderson, who is back in the Shawano County Jail and has not been able to post the new bond. Defense Attorney Daniel Mitchell said that he is looking at a plea deal with the district attorney’s office on the new charges, as well, but any deal will hinge on what the blood tests show. Those are currently with the state crime lab and are expected to take at least 60 days to receive due to a backlog.

“I certainly can’t hold that against (DA Greg Parker),” Mitchell said. “We’d be looking at getting an offer in 60-75 days. I understand there may be a new global offer forthcoming including the cases she’s already pled to.”

Gunderson was charged in May with one count of attempting to flee or elude an officer, one count of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, one count of resisting an officer — causing a soft tissue injury to an officer, one count of possession of an electric weapon, nine counts of bail jumping, and one misdemeanor count of resisting or obstructing an officer.

She faces up to 12½ years in prison along with $10,000 in fines for first-degree recklessly endangering safety, six years in prison along with a $10,000 fine for resisting an officer — causing a soft tissue injury to the officer and six years in prison and a $10,000 fine for each bail jumping count if convicted.

Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge Katherine Sloma ordered her to be held on a $10,000 cash bond in the May case.

The new plea deal is expected to include previous charges from 2020. In December of that year, Gunderson was charged of burglary, resisting an officer, escape/criminal arrest and three counts of felony bail jumping. In March 2020, she was arrested and charged with second-offense possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia. Gunderson also has open charges from July 2020 involving disorderly conduct, resisting an officer and two counts of felony bail jumping, and one week later, she was charged with four more felony counts of bail jumping.

Gunderson’s next court hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 1 in Branch 1 of the Shawano County Courthouse.


lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com