KLESER MOVE TO ADULT CONFINEMENT DENIED

YOUTH ACCUSED IN GAY MURDER WILL STAY IN JUVIE

Special for the readers of www.milwaukeeworld.com

By Michael Horne

In a rare and unanticipated move, Judge Mary Triggiano heard a request Monday to transfer Corey Kleser to the County Jail. After hearing arguments she denied the request. Kleser, held on $250,000 cash bond after being charged in November 2006 for the murder of Ronald O. Adams, remained in secure detention with the same bail in the Juvenile Justice Center. He turned 16 on New Year's Eve.
Neither Assistant District Attorney Joy Hammond, who is the prosecutor in case 2006CF005981 or Public Defender Debra Flynn-Parrino who represents the indigent teenager, would say why the request was made to transfer Kleser.
But you can be darned sure it wasn't for good behavior -- or for acting like an adult.
Hammond mentioned that "this is an adult case," and had no further comment. She would not respond to a request as to who had made the transfer request.
Public Defender Parrino likewise was perforce circumspect in her comments about the pending case. Kleser, then 15, bludgeoned and stabbed the 57 year old Adams after the man, who had paid the youth to pose naked, asked him for sex.
Parrino said a request for transfer "always comes from the detention center" officials. She said the practice is extremely rare, and could readily recollect only one previous request. That was in a case where a detainee attempted to kidnap his teacher.
Judging from the sketchy information, and what we know about Kleser, [here is an index to previous milwaukeeworld postings] it appears safe to say that he must be a very tough customer (or tries to act like one) who is experiencing difficulty adapting to his new environment. This is a common affliction in the young, and one that ordinarily elicits our sympathy.
However, not in this case. There is a good likelihood that Corey Kleser will grow old in prison. Whether he will grow up is another matter.
The next scheduled court event will be a status hearing on February 22nd.