Stevens Point man facing domestic abuse repeater enhancement to charges

By Brandi Makuski

A 35-year-old Stevens Point man could face more than eight years in prison after police say he trespassed and damaged property belonging to his ex-girlfriend. 

Jesse Lukitsch appeared in Portage Co. Circuit Court on Monday for his initial appearance, where he pleaded not guilty to felonious charges of criminal damage to property, criminal trespass to dwelling, bail- jumping and disorderly conduct, as well as a misdemeanor charge of intentionally contacting a victim after court order.

According to the criminal complaint, Lukitsch violated conditions of his probation when he entered his ex-girlfriend’s residence in May of 2015. The woman had been sleeping on the couch awaiting the return of her roommate, and awoke to find Lukitsch had entered the unlocked apartment uninvited, rolling cigarettes in a chair next to her.

When she told Lukitsch he wasn’t supposed to have contact with her and she wanted him to leave, he became angry and flipped over an end table, according to the complaint, shattering the glass table top in her living room. The woman then summoned police.

Lukitsch was taken into custody and formally charged last July.

All five charges come with a possible sentence enhancement due to Lukitsch’s repeat offender status. He could also face more than $30,000 in fines in connection with the charges.

Following another incident in July, 2014, Lukitsch had pleaded no contest and was convicted of battery, bail jumping and criminal damage to property. Another charge stemming from that arrest, strangulation and suffocation, was dropped as part of his plea. He was sentenced to 36 months probation and 270 days in jail, but at the time of sentencing had been given credit for 192 days he had served behind bars.

He had also been ordered to refrain from contact with the victim in that case, the same woman he is accused of contacting in his latest case.

He returns to court Feb. 15 for a pre-trial conference.