Man Acquitted of La Crosse Homicide now Facing Felony Heroin Charge

LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) -

A Madison man who was acquitted of stabbing a man to death at the Kwik Trip in La Crosse in the summer of 2013 is now facing a felony drug charge.

Mitrel Anderson, 28-year-old, appeared in court Tuesday and was charged with Manufacture/Deliver of Heroin as a Repeater, and Misdemeanor Bail Jumping as a Repeater.

A jury acquitted Anderson in December 2014 in the stabbing death of DeMario Lee inside a restroom in the Kwik Trip in June of 2013. Anderson had claimed self-defense in the killing.

La Crosse Police had been investigating Anderson for nearly a year when he was arrested Monday.

In March 2015, La Crosse Co. Judge Todd Bjerke released Anderson on a $500 cash bond after he was arrested for misdemeanor offenses of Operating While Intoxicated, 2nd Offense, Operating with a Prohibited Alcohol Concentration, 2nd Offense and Operating after Revocation.

Anderson's bond included a statutory condition that he commit no further crimes while on bond which was to be in full force until his plea and sentencing on August 21, 2015.

According to the criminal complaint, a confidential informant purchased 2.2 grams of heroin for $200 from Anderson on April 15, 2015.

Anderson faces more than 20 years in prison if convicted on the two current charges because he is a repeat offender.