Jury convicts man of recklessly endangering safety

A jury found a Rice Lake man guilty of second-degree recklessly endangering safety for pointing a gun at his girlfriend’s roommate in their south side apartment.

Kameron M. Van Erp, 18, was charged with a felony of second-degree recklessly endangering safety on Nov. 3 in Barron County Circuit Court. Additional misdemeanor charges were for intentionally pointing a firearm at a person, disorderly conduct, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Thursday’s trial took a full day and featured testimony from several Rice Lake police officers as well as the defendant himself. The defense attempted after the trial began to have the felony dismissed, but Judge Samuel Lawson ruled against the motion.

At 5:38 p.m. the jury returned guilty verdicts for the felony plus for intentionally pointing a firearm at a person and disorderly conduct with use of a dangerous weapon.

Now that he’s been convicted of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, Van Erp could be fined up to $25,000 and spend as many as 10 years in prison.

Van Erp remains free on a $2,500 signature bond and he returns to court for sentencing on Oct. 11.

Also charged in the same case was Liceidy Yoliann Figueroa Cruz, 18. She pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and possession of marijuana, a forfeiture, on May 10. Judge J.M. Bitney imposed and stayed a jail term of 90 days and gave her one year on probation.