Courts
Murder victim’s mother wants courts to keep criminals locked up
“I fear for my life and the lives around me.”
Sherry Hougom spoke those words Wednesday to a La Crosse County committee that’s studying complaints about judges letting dangerous criminals out in public.
Hougom’s 20-year-old daughter Sara was shot to death in her own La Crosse apartment by a burglar in 2012.
Sherry told county law enforcement leaders that the fear has not gone away.
“I feel like I’m living a life sentence of heartache and fear” because repeat offenders are being released from jail, Hougom said.
She wants judges to keep dangerous criminals in jail, and hold those people accountable for what they’ve done.
The two men convicted in the death of Sara Hougom were both sentenced to 35 years in prison.
Sherry Hougom’s comments came at a meeting of La Crosse County’s Criminal Justice Management Council, where criticism of recent decisions by local judges was a major topic of discussion.
The council meets every third Wednesday of the month. The meeting is open to the public.
Dawn Kinard
July 18, 2019 at 11:25 am
I am in total agreement, time to send the people involved in these horrific crimes are sentenced accordingly! The city of La Crosse has turned into “little Chicago, Milwaukee etc.” The “SLUMLORDS” are responsible for this, the removal of “INSPECTIONS” by the City is responsible for allowing Our City to become what it is attempting to become a “revolving door” as it is known for every drug dealer between Chicago to the Cities. Take a look a Poage Park, change the name from Hood Park….it’s WORSE!!! Take Action on this issue someone, please