Reinwand sentenced to life in prison for homicide

WISCONSIN RAPIDS --After more than six years, family members of shooting victim Dale Meister were able to get justice Thursday.

It took a jury a little less than two hours to find Joseph B. Reinwand guilty of first-degree intentional homicide for the 2008 shooting death of Dale R. Meister, 35, of Wisconsin Rapids.

Attorney Vincent Biskupic, who was a special prosecutor in the case, asked Wood County Circuit Judge Greg Potter to sentence Reinwand immediately following the jury's verdict. Biskupic, who will become an Outagamie Circuit Court judge in mid-November, said the family was present, and Potter had a presentence investigation done when Reinwand was sentenced for burglary.

Reinwand, who decided not to take the stand in his own defense during the trial, also decided not to comment during his sentencing. Biskupic requested Reinwand spend the rest of his life in prison, while defense Attorney Troy Nielsen asked that Potter make Reinwand eligible for extended supervision after serving 20 years.

"At that point in time, judge, he'll be 75 years old — hardly a young man," Nielsen said. "We ask the court that he be eligible for release in 20 years."

Biskupic said Meister's family, who filled half the courtroom, had decided to allow the sentencing to move forward on Thursday and not make a statement. The family thought the right thing to do was allow Biskupic to speak a few words for them, Biskupic said.

"They're devastated, they're distraught; they're saddened; they miss their loved one," Biskupic said.

"The impact on the family has lingered during the past six or seven years, and they don't expect things will get any easier," Biskupic said. There are constant reminders that Dale Meister is no longer with his family.

There is an obvious need to protect the public, Potter said. The shooting of Meister obviously was premeditated, Potter said.

"When a person shoots another human being three times, two at point blank range, it's obvious they do it with no heart," Potter said. "It's obvious they cannot be put out in the community at any time."

With that, Potter sentenced Reinwand to life in prison without the possibility of being released on extended supervision.

The Waushara County jury was sent home prior to the sentencing. The 14 jurors, 12 who arrived at the final verdict and two alternates, spent eight days listening to Biskupic, Nielsen and co-defense attorney David Dickmann present evidence on the case. More than 100 witnesses, including family members, experts and members of the community, took the stand from Oct. 20 through Wednesday.

During a closing argument that lasted about an hour and half Thursday morning, Biskupic presented Reinwand as a man who was manipulative, controlling, deceptive and lived by his own rules.

Reinwand's daughter and Meister were involved in a custody dispute over the child they shared, according to court documents. Prior to his death, Meister had told several friends that, if he was found dead, Reinwand did it.

Biskupic said 13 or more witnesses, many of whom took the stand, told authorities Meister said Reinwand threatened him.

Meister stayed at a friend's house the night before he was scheduled for mediation in the custody case. He did that because he knew there was danger at his Wisconsin Rapids mobile home, Biskupic said.

As he talked, Biskupic showed pictures from the eight days of testimony, including pictures of Meister carving a pumpkin with Reinwand's grandson, pictures of Meister snuggling with his daughter and pictures of Meister going down a slide with the children

.When Biskupic put up a very different picture, one taken of Meister's body, some of Meister's family members, who packed half the courtroom Thursday morning, had to get up and leave.

"There's no sugar coating it; this was a cold, brutal killing," Biskupic said.

Nielsen spoke of inconsistencies in the prosecution's theories. The prosecution cited numerous witnesses who stated Meister said he was afraid Reinwand would hurt him. However, many of the same witnesses stated Meister was worried about Reinwand's daughter and sister also being angry with Meister.

The prosecution never looked into whether Reinwand's daughter or sister could have been responsible for Meister's death, Nielsen said.

Language is a complicated thing, and Meister liked to talk, Nielsen said. Many witnesses expressed annoyance over having to listen to Meister tell the story of his relationship with Reinwand's daughter over and over again. It's hard to tell how concerned Meister was with Reinwand because of his tendency to keep repeating things.

During his rebuttal, Biskupic pointed out that the defense didn't explain why a piece of a gun was in Reinwand's pickup.

There is no physical evidence to suggest anyone but Reinwand committed the homicide, Biskupic said.

Reinwand still faces a charge of first-degree murder in Portage County for the May 13, 1984, shooting death of his former wife. Portage County authorities originally declared the death a suicide but reopened the investigation after evidence surfaced during the investigation into Meister's death.

Biskupic filed the charge in Portage County in August.

You may contact reporter Karen Madden at 715-423-7200, ext. 6729, or follow her on Twitter: @wrtkmadden

Video: Defense rests: