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Kruger trial in Dane County scheduled for this week
Iowa County hearing in August
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The second of three sets of state charges against James Kruger, who led authorities on a three-county chase in September 2013, is scheduled to go to trial Thursday.

Kruger is scheduled for trial Thursday and Friday on a Dane County charge of fleeing or eluding an officer for an incident in August 2013, and charges of felon possession of a firearm, first-degree recklessly endangering safety and felony bail jumping for an incident that occurred one day before the three-county chase.

Dane County prosecutors sought a delay in jury selection, which was scheduled for Monday, but the motion was denied by Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke May 17, according to court records.

Kruger was sentenced by Grant County Circuit Judge Robert VanDeHey April 5 to 14 years in prison and 11 years extended supervision, after a plea agreement on charges of armed robbery, strangulation and false imprisonment. 

The sentence will run concurrent with the 15 years Kruger received in U.S. District Court in Madison in September on a federal charge of felon possession of a firearm.

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 in September 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.