MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin prison warden was jailed Wednesday just hours before a scheduled news conference where officials planned to discuss the findings of investigations into multiple deaths at his facility. Online jail records indicate that Waupun Correctional Institution Warden Randall Hepp was booked into the Dodge County Jail around 8:20 a.m. The records didn’t offer further details on why he was jailed or what charges he might face. Online court records didn’t show any charges filed against him as of mid-morning Wednesday. But state Sen. Van Wanggaard told The Associated Press that the warden and numerous other people will be arrested and charged with crimes related to their work at the prison. Wanggaard said he was briefed on the developments Tuesday by the head of the state Department of Corrections. Wanggaard is chairman of the state Senate committee that oversees prisons. Wanggaard said he didn’t have details on how many people would be charged, or what the charges would be, other than that at least some would be felony charges. Jail Sgt. Chad Riter said that Hepp’s attorney had visited him, but Riter did not know the attorney’s name. Riter didn’t immediately return a follow-up message inquiring if a reporter could speak with Hepp and asking why he was booked into the jail. Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt planned to hold a news conference Wednesday afternoon to discuss investigations his agency has conducted looking into multiple inmate deaths at Waupun. Four inmates have died at Waupun since June 2023. WFDL news has learned that charges will be referred to the Dodge County District Attorney against a prison captain, lieutenant, two nurses and two sergeants.
