James M. Kruger was found guilty of Dane County charges for a stabbing one day before his three-county crime spree in September 2013.

Kruger was found guilty of first-degree recklessly endangering safety by a Dane County jury Thursday. Kruger was found guilty by Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke of felon possession of a firearm and felony bail jumping charges.

Ehlke ordered a presentence investigation, with no sentencing date set.

Kruger is already serving a 15-year federal sentence for felon possession of a firearm, and a sentence of 14 years in prison and 11 years extended supervision, after a plea agreement on charges of armed robbery, strangulation and false imprisonment. 

One day after the Dane County incident, Kruger was accused of trying to rob his uncle at his home in Cassville, then fleeing from the scene and taking a couple hostage outside of Cassville Sept. 10, 2013. 

Kruger forced the husband to take him on a journey through Grant and Iowa counties, until Riedl was able to escape during a stop in Dodgeville. Kruger then took another vehicle, which was stopped with stop sticks on U.S. 18/151 near Blue Mound.

Kruger pleaded not guilty by reason of mental defect in Grant County. During testimony in Lancaster Kruger repeatedly named three officers who he said threatened to pin several crimes on him, who threatened his girlfriend and mother, and who he offered $100,000 to get out from under them. He talked about a Chicago police officer selling cocaine out of the trunk of his car, and how police threatened his construction business that helped churches.

Kruger also faces nine Iowa County counts of felony bail jumping, three counts of fleeing or eluding an officer, two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and one count each of taking and driving a vehicle without consent, driving or operating a vehicle without consent, carrying a concealed weapon, and theft of movable property of up to $2,500. Most of the charges include enhanced repeater penalties, as well as enhanced penalties for use of a dangerous weapon.

A status conference by telephone is scheduled for Aug. 18.