Prison Ordered For 18-Year-Old Convicted In Barron County Home Invasions

BARRON COUNTY -- Prison time was ordered for the first of four men sentenced in Barron County home invasion cases.

At a sentencing hearing on March 1, 2019 the Court ordered prison time for 18-year-old Tyler Rognholt on his charges stemming from home invasions and burglaries that occurred in Barron County in December 2017.

Tyler Rognholt

On December 28, 2017 (see below), DrydenWire.com reported that four men were facing multiple felony charges in Barron County following the investigation of reported home invasions.

According to press releases from the Barron County Sheriff’s Office the investigation identified Ricky Gjerseth, Zachary Schwanke, Jonah Blake, and Tyler Rognholt as the suspects for the home invasions.

During one of the incidents, four males wearing masks and carrying a gun and bats entered an apartment and held the subject at gunpoint while they took several items from the apartment before fleeing the scene.

Another incident was reported during which three males entered a house, held the occupants at gunpoint and took several items from the home. During the home invasion, a subject in the house was struck with a bat as he tried to tackle one of the suspects.

Barron County Sheriff’s Department investigated the home invasions along with the Rice Lake, Barron and Chetek Police Departments, leading to the arrest of the 4 men.

Numerous criminal charges were filed against the four men including the following:

• Gjerseth and Schwanke were each charged with 3 counts of Class C Felony Armed Robbery, and 3 counts of Class F Felony Burglary filed in 8 separate circuit court cases.
• Rognholt and Blake were each charged with 2 counts of Class C Felony Armed Robbery and 2 counts of Class F Felony Burglary filed in 4 separate circuit court cases.

Online circuit court records show that Rognholt plead guilty to amended charges in January 2019, and the Court found him guilty of two counts of Class E Felony Burglary-Dwelling With Person Present. The remaining charges were dismissed and/or read in by the Court.

The Court heard from some of those victimized by the home invasions during the sentencing hearing on March 1, 2019 and then ordered an imposed sentence of 8 years on each of Rognholt’s convictions.

Rognholt has been ordered to serve 4 years of initial confinement on each count followed by 4 years of extended supervision on each count, to be served consecutively (with credit for over 436 days served). The Court also ordered Rognholt to undergo any and all evaluations, counseling, treatment and follow-up recommended by the Department of Corrections.

According to online circuit court records, Jonah Blake and Ricky Gjerseth are both scheduled to be sentenced on their charges later this month. Zachary Schwanke is due back in court in May 2019 for a sentencing hearing.

Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

**Previous Post**

Four Officially Charged With Armed Robbery & Burglary in Recent Home Invasions

DrydenWire.com l Thursday, December 28, 2017

[Pictured L/R: Zach Schwanke; Tyler Rognholt; Jonah Blake; Ricky Gjerseth]

BARRON COUNTY -- Multiple charges have been filed against 4 men following recent home invasions in Barron County.

Press releases from the Barron County Sheriff’s Office recently identified Ricky Gjerseth, Zachary Schwanke, Jonah Blake, and Tyler Rognholt as the suspects in the home invasions reported in Barron County.

Online circuit court records show that multiple charges have now been filed against the 4 men in Barron County circuit court.

Gjerseth and Schwanke are each charged with 3 counts of Class C Felony Armed Robbery, and 3 counts of Class F Felony Burglary filed in 8 separate circuit court cases.

Rognholt and Blake are each charged with 2 counts of Class C Felony Armed Robbery and 2 counts of Class F Felony Burglary filed in 4 separate circuit court cases.

The details of the charges listed with online circuit court records indicate that there were 3 incidents; one on November 14, another on December 18, and a third incident on December 19.

Barron County Sheriff’s Department investigated the home invasions along with the Rice Lake, Barron and Chetek Police Departments, leading to the arrest of the 4 men.

According to KBJR6.com, Gjerseth told law enforcement that the 4 men were ‘ripped off during a drug deal in the Twin Cities. Following this, the men decided to attempt a robbery of a Somalian, as they did not believe a Somalian would contact the police. After waiting for 30-60 minutes, they decide to break into a residence and held a man at gunpoint. No cash was taken during that home invasion, however, they did steal a cell phone. When fleeing the scene, Schwanke dropped his cell phone in the parking lot.

Gjerseth, Schwanke, and Rognholt all appeared in Barron County Circuit Court on December 27 for an initial appearance regarding their criminal charges, and the Court placed them each on $10,000 cash bail bonds. Blake also appeared in court on December 27 and was placed on a $20,000 cash bail bond.

All 4 men remain in the custody of the Barron County Jail at the time of this post and are scheduled to appear in court again early in January of 2018.

Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

**Previous Post**

All 4 Suspects Now in Custody Following Recent Home Invasions

Thursday, December 21, 2017 | BCSD l Press Release

**UPDATE** Barron County Sheriff, Chris Fitzgerald, says that the two remaining suspects are now in custody. 

"With the assistance of the Eau Claire Police Dept, the other 2 suspects in our home invasion were taking into custody and will be held in the Barron County Jail pending formal charges."

The two suspects were identified as Tyler Rognholt, 17 of Cameron, and Jonah Blake, 20 of Cumberland.

A joint investigation involving the Barron County Sheriff’s Department along with the Rice Lake, Barron and Chetek Police Departments reference the home invasions has led to the arrest of two suspects and the identity of two additional suspects to be apprehended.

Taken into custody were Zach Schwanke, 17 of Barron, and Ricky Gjerseth, 17 of Black River Falls. Both are currently being held in the Barron County Jail on Robbery Charges.

We are currently looking for the whereabouts of Tyler Rognholt, 17 of Cameron, and Jonah Blake, 20 of Cumberland, in connection with the area home invasions.

Anyone with information on the location of these suspects should contact 911.

Per Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald; Barron Police Chief Byron Miller; Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis; Rice Lake Police Chief Steve Roux.

**Previous Post**

Barron County Authorities Seeking Public's Help After Two Overnight Home Invasions

Wednesday, December 20, 2017 | BCSD l Press Release

On Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at 7:47 p.m., a call came into dispatch of a theft from 370 E Birch Ave. The Barron Police Department responded to the scene and determined that a home invasion had occurred. Four males wearing masks and carrying a gun and bats entered an apartment and held the subject at gunpoint while they took several items from the apartment. The suspects then fled the scene.

About 45 minutes later, a call came into dispatch from a residence in Chetek reporting a home invasion. The Chetek Police along with the Barron County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene. Three males entered this house and held the occupants at gunpoint and took several items from the home. During the home invasion, a subject in the house was struck with a bat as he tried to tackle one of the suspects.

At this time we believe that these two incidents are connected but we have no suspects. The Sheriff’s Department is working with Barron and Chetek Police Departments to attempt to find a connection between the two victims.

If anyone has information about this case you are asked to call the Barron County Dispatch Center at 715-537-3106 or you can send an anonymous tip-text BCTIPS with your tip information to 847411. Also, everyone should report anything suspicious in your neighborhood to 911.

Per Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald; Barron Police Chief Byron Miller; Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis.