Here are six crime stories in Waukesha that made headlines in 2015.
Bank robberies add up
Bank robberies, especially on Sunset Drive, were prevalent in 2015. The first occurred at Associated Bank in February when Lance Keota and Jason Barnhill were charged with robbing the bank at 100 E. Sunset Drive. Police later discovered the weapon used by the men during the robbery was an airsoft gun, not a real firearm. Both remain in custody as their cases are not yet finished.
Another man robbed two banks in Waukesha County in a span of three days in June. Thomas Clark, 55, who according to the criminal complaint was using cocaine at the time of the robbery in Waukesha, entered the Tri City National bank, which is inside a Pick 'n Save at 220 E. Sunset Drive, wearing a blue surgical mask. Two days after robbing the Waukesha bank, Clark then robbed Town Bank in Wales. He pleaded guilty in October and was sentenced in December to 15 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision.
Sex at the library
One of the strange crimes of 2015 was when a couple was caught in March having sex in one of the bathrooms inside the Waukesha Public Library.
A female library patron allegedly walked in on them while they were "having sex sitting on a toilet," according to the complaint said. The woman involved received a citation while the man, Daniel Goralski, received a 90-day jail sentence in October.
Chinchilla case remains ongoing
An unsettling story occurred this spring when police found more than 330 living and deceased chinchillas in a home on the city's northeast side. The home was quickly labeled uninhabitable by fire department officials due to the toxic levels of ammonia. Chinchilla feces were found covering the hallway and kitchen floors. Dead chinchillas were found in the garage and in the basement freezer.
The chinchillas were subsequently turned over to the Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County and were housed and cared for at that facility, which stretched the nonprofit's resources. A majority of the chinchillas have since been adopted out to families.
The chinchillas’ owners — Garrett and Tricia Rees — have been charged with three counts of neglecting a child (they were raising their three children in the house), intentionally mistreating animals and intentionally impounding an animal shelter without proper ventilation. Both Garrett and Tricia Rees, who now live in Muskego, have pleaded not guilty to the charges and await a jury trial in February.
Pastor charged with touching girl
One of the disturbing crimes of 2015 in Waukesha was when it came to light that a Waukesha pastor and former school bus driver was charged with first-degree sexual assault of a child after admitting to touching a 10-year-old girl's breast in his office at Fox River Christian Church in Waukesha.
Peter Knebel, 72, said he touched the girl for sexual gratification, according to the complaint. Knebel has pleaded not guilty and remains out on bail.
Man leads police on high-speed chase
Police said it was essentially a miracle no one was seriously injured or even died after a man, high on LSD, led police on a high-speed chase across the city in August.
Leif Erickson, 21, who was nude at the time, plowed through a fence, slammed into two Waukesha police cars, drove erratically and at high speeds through Waukesha streets and later crashed his truck before having to be brought to the ground by officers who used a less-lethal bean bag round.
Erickson faces 10 charges, including six felonies, and remains in custody at the Waukesha County Jail as he awaits his next hearing.
Carroll students sexually assaulted
A teenager from Racine made his way to the Carroll University campus in September and allegedly sexually assaulted three women who were walking on or near the school.
Jonathan Markwick, 17, is charged with three counts of fourth-degree sexual assault for allegedly groping the women over a span of about 90 minutes.
Markwick recently pleaded not guilty in Waukesha County after finishing another jail sentence in Racine County.