Waukesha parade suspect Darrell Brooks in court on charges of intimidating a victim
MILWAUKEE COUNTY (CBS 58) -- Darrell Brooks, the suspect in the Waukesha parade attack, had a court appearance in Milwaukee County on Wednesday, Feb. 2.
Brooks appeared on Zoom from the Milwaukee County Jail for his initial appearance. He was transferred from the Waukesha jail because they do not have Zoom capabilities. He is charged, most recently, with three felonies including threatening a witness and bail jumping.
"He has demonstrated through his conduct, if these allegations prove to be true, that he commits crimes whether he's in custody or out of custody," said prosecutor Matthew Torbenson.
In early November, Brooks was charged with running over the mother of his child with a car. Then, according to a criminal complaint, recordings prove he repeatedly called that woman from jail, threatening her and pushing her to drop the charges.
Brooks got out of jail on bail and then allegedly committed the crimes in Waukesha.
After the parade attack, investigators learned of the jail calls and filed charges in December.
The state asked a judge to add another $50,000 cash to Darrell Brooks' already high bail.
"Briefly, Mr. Brooks has eight prior convictions in Wisconsin, at least one criminal conviction out of state," Torbenson said. "At the time of these offenses, if they prove to be true, he had two open criminal cases in Milwaukee County."
Brooks' attorney asked for a lower cash bail but acknowledged it doesn't really matter because Brooks isn't getting out of jail.
"We already know where Mr. Brooks is going to be for the foreseeable future and probably beyond that as well, his circumstances are not changing any time soon," said defense attorney Robert Hampton.
The judge agreed with the state and set bail at $50,000 cash. Brooks' total bail in all his cases is now $5.25 million cash.
Brooks will be back in Milwaukee court for a preliminary hearing on this case and status on the open domestic violence case on Feb. 9.
He'll be in Waukesha court for arraignment on the more than 70 charges for the parade attack on Feb. 11.
Brooks also has another open case in Milwaukee and has a hearing in that case on Feb. 18.