Tomah man, waiting for trial in 15-year-old shooting death, turns self in for violating curfew

The suspect in a shooting death of a 15-year-old was brought back to La Crosse County court Monday for a bail violation.

Sage Hicke of Tomah, Wis., was arrested Friday in La Crosse for violating his curfew, against the terms of his bail.

Hicke is accused of killing Storm Vondrashek outside an apartment building near Gundersen Health System on the south side of La Crosse, last May.

The 18-year-old appeared before Judge Scott Horne in La Crosse County court Monday.

He called La Crosse city dispatch Friday to let it know he was out past his curfew. He said it was because a group of friends wouldn’t give him a ride home from Pettibone Beach.

Police said Hicke made the call after crossing the bridge and walking several miles to the far south side of La Crosse, on 31st Street South, apparently after drinking.

They also found him carrying a concealed weapon — spiked brass knuckles.

Defense attorney Andrew Martinez said Hicke and his family are in danger of death or harm.

“Certain people are on record making a plan to exact revenge against Mr. Hicke and his family,” Martinez told the court. “His mother was specifically threatened in text messages exchanged by people associated with the homicide case.”

Hicke is scheduled to be tried this summer for the 2022 shooting death of Vondrashek, at a 7th Street apartment building. He claims that the shooting was in self-defense.

The district attorney’s office requested a bond of $5,000, but Horne suggested that Hicke be given a $1,000 cash bond. Hicke was later released from jail.