Judge denies Huehn’s request for furlough from jail to seek work

Barron County Judge James Babler has denied a request from Troy J. Huehn Jr. for a furlough from the Barron County Jail to look for work.

Huehn, 18, has been serving an eight-month jail sentence since February for causing the deaths of two teens and injuries to a third as the result of a car crash south of Rice Lake in October 2022.

Huehn had pleaded guilty in December to two counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle and a single count of reckless driving-causing great bodily harm. Two months later Babler ordered him to spend four months in jail on each of the homicide convictions, to be served consecutively, with eight years on probation.

If Huehn violates terms of probation, he can be sent to prison for 5½ years.

Huehn, who has been serving his time in Barron County Jail, successfully petitioned the courts on July 11 for Huber and work release, and brought his request for the furlough before Babler on Tuesday.

The state argued that Huehn does not need the furlough as he can seek work through policies and procedures that the jail recently has implemented, and the judge denied the request.