UPDATE: Former Jefferson Co. Drug Task Force Supervisor to Face Trial for Theft

UPDATED Wednesday, May 8, 2013 --- 11:26 a.m.

JEFFERSON, Wis. (AP) -- A former Jefferson County sheriff's sergeant has been bound over for trial on theft and misconduct charges.

A criminal complaint says Timothy Madson filled out multiple expense reports as supervisor of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force from 2003 to 2011. It says Madson received more than $20,000 in reimbursement from task force funds. The complaint says he sought reimbursement for work performed by other officers he supervised on the task force. Madson was in charge of approving those expense claims.

A conviction on the theft charge could send Madson to prison for ten years. A conviction for misconduct in public office is punishable by a maximum 3 1/2 years in prison.

The state Department of Justice investigated the case.

Copyright 2013: Associated Press

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UPDATED Tuesday, February 5, 2013 --- 12:04 p.m.

Press Release from the Attorney General's Office:

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that Timothy Madson, a former Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department sergeant and supervisor of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force, made his initial appearance on one felony count of theft and one felony count of misconduct in public office. Madson, who has been out of custody while this case has been investigated and pending, was ordered by reserve Judge Neal Nettesheim to be booked today but will remain free on a $10,000 signature bond. A preliminary hearing before assigned Waukesha County Judge Patrick Haughney has not yet been scheduled.

According to the Criminal Complaint, Madson served as the supervisor of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force from 2003 until late 2011. During that time, Madson filled out multiple expense reports claiming hundreds of case-related expenses during the course of his employment. As a result of these expense claims, Madson received more than $20,000 in reimbursement from task force funds. Madson’s expense claims were in excess of any claims made by the case officers on the task force. On his expense forms, Madson attributed those expenses to case-related work, but based upon statements from other officers on the task force, Madson was the supervisor and wouldn’t have performed work on cases that required reimbursement. Madson was in charge of disbursing funds from the task force accounts to the investigators and was responsible for approving expense claims, and therefore was in a position to fraudulently claim expenses himself and receive those funds in excess of his lawful authority.

The theft count is a class G felony punishable by a fine of not more than $25,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both. The misconduct in public office charge is a Class I felony punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 3 years and 6 months, or both.

A criminal complaint is a document accusing a person of a violation of criminal law. A defendant enjoys a presumption of innocence. The prosecution must prove its allegations at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant Attorney General David W. Maas is representing the State. This investigation was conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice -- Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) at the request of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department.

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UPDATED Thursday, December 13, 2012 --- 6:40 p.m.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Prosecutors have accused a former Jefferson County drug detective with stealing thousands of dollars by filing fraudulent expense reports.

Timothy Madson faces one count of theft and one count of misconduct in office. He could face up to 13 1/2 years in prison if he's convicted.

According to the state Justice Department, Madson supervised the Jefferson County Drug Task Force from 2003 until late 2011. According to a criminal complaint, he claimed more than $10,000 in questionable expenses from a fund set up to cover controlled drug buys and other incidental task force expenses. Other members of the task force said Madson didn't do any work that would have required reimbursement because he was the supervisor.

Madson's attorney, Michael Witt, didn't immediately return a telephone message early Thursday evening.

Copyright 2012: Associated Press

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Posted Wednesday, December 12, 2012 --- 1:22 p.m.

Press Release from the Attorney General's Office:

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that Timothy Madson, a former Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department sergeant and supervisor of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force, has been charged with one felony count of theft and one felony count of misconduct in public office. An initial appearance has been scheduled for January 7, 2013, at 1:15 p.m. in Jefferson County Circuit Court.

According to the Criminal Complaint, Madson served as the supervisor of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force from 2003 until late 2011. During that time, Madson filled out multiple expense reports claiming hundreds of case-related expenses during the course of his employment. As a result of these expense claims, Madson received more than $20,000 in reimbursement from task force funds. Madson’s expense claims were in excess of any claims made by the case officers on the task force. On his expense forms, Madson attributed those expenses to case-related work, but based upon statements from other officers on the task force, Madson was the supervisor and wouldn’t have performed work on cases that required reimbursement. Madson was in charge of disbursing funds from the task force accounts to the investigators and also was responsible for approving expense claims, and therefore was in a position to fraudulently claim expenses himself and receive those funds in excess of his lawful authority.

The theft count is a class G felony, punishable by a fine of not more than $25,000 or imprisonment for not more than 10 years, or both. The misconduct in public office charge is a Class I felony, punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than three years and six months, or both.

A criminal complaint is a document accusing a person of a violation of criminal law. A defendant enjoys a presumption of innocence. The prosecution must prove its allegations at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.


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  • by Mom on May 8, 2013 at 09:22 PM
    As a parent of a former Varsity VB player I can honestly say he was not cold-hearted but expected nothing but perfection from his players. He expected players to work hard and execute what he taught them. My son respected Coach Madson as did we, the parents. Our son, is the type of kid though that was there to learn and achieve success in the sport.I suppose his method of coaching and high expectations along with holding kids accountable for their lack of effort could be construed by some as cold-hearted. For those players who think he was cold-hearted...maybe you should have tried harder and worked to gain his respect. Sounds like sour grapes here, and why not blame someone other than yourself for your lack of effort and most likely lack of playing time. After all, it is easier to place blame rather than accept responsibility for one's actions. Unfortunately Mr Madson's reputation is tarnished, but what he may or may not have done while in office has no bearing on his ability and success as a coach.
  • by PD Location: Fort Atkinson on Dec 14, 2012 at 01:45 PM
    Another former player of Madson's here: Jacque's comments on Tim are a far stretch of the truth and I question if she was involved with the varsity volleyball program based upon this exaggeration. Out of all the coaches that I’ve had across all the sports I played in, Tim was not only extremely cold hearted to the kids, but he displayed a lack of respect to the parents as well. Ray - For the DA to take out one of their own, proves that the system is working correctly. The public deserves to be informed when those who are placed in a position of protecting and serving violate the oath they have taken.
  • by Matt Location: Madison on Dec 14, 2012 at 12:45 PM
    As a former player of Madson's, I can't say I'm surprised or shocked. The town has had a history of putting poor role models in coaching positions this simply adds to that legacy. Fort will be well-served by making an example of his above-the-law behavior.
  • by Ray Location: Green Bay on Dec 14, 2012 at 10:12 AM
    There should be better efforts to protect the identity of those "accused" of these types of crimes. He's had his image tarnished regardless of the outcome.
  • by Jacque Kutz Location: Jefferson on Dec 12, 2012 at 10:16 PM
    I can't believe this. I am in complete shock. This man was the high school boys volleyball coach for years. He was and is very respected by his players and their parents. If this is true, this will be devastating to those kids, one of whom is my son. He looked up to and worshipped Coach Madsen. I just have a problem believing this is correct.

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