TEEN IN GAY SEX MURDER CASE FACES NEW CHARGE OF BATTERY BY PRISONER

By Michael Horne

Special for the readers of www.milwaukeeworld.com

As a kid who faces the prospect of spending the rest of his life in jail for the fatal beating and stabbing of a gay man, 16-year old Corey Kleser isn’t doing much to help his case.

He was charged in Waukesha County Circuit Court May 21^st, 2007 with one count of “battery by prisoners,” a Class H felony.

It was Kleser’s first brush with the law since way back in February, when he was charged in Milwaukee County with “battery by prisoners” along with a count of “substantial battery – intend bodily harm” in a January incident.

He also faces first degree homicide charges in Milwaukee for the bludgeoning – stabbing death of Ronald O. Adams in October, 2006.

All this court activity is keeping Kleser’s public defenders busy –perhaps unnecessarily so, as some might argue.

In the most recent case, Kleser was directed on May 19^th to visit the health service center at the Ethan Allen School juvenile justice facility to have his blood sugar monitored. Kleser, a diabetic, refused, and was then ordered to his room. He reacted somewhat characteristically by confronting a male school official and beating him about the head, including punching him in the nose, mouth and jaw.

The Milwaukee case seems to have followed a similar pattern.

Both are reminiscent of the means used to murder Adams, who died after Kleser struck him numerous times with a hammer, followed by stabbings with a scissors. Kleser said Adams, 57, had offered to pay him to watch porno movies at Adams’ northwest side home. The prosecution is expected to state that Adams was victimized by the boy, who was no rookie to the streets. (I have a whole archive of milwaukeeworld stories on Kleser located here.)

Meanwhile, Kleser’s attorneys are seeking to have him tried for the homicide in juvenile court, while the state wants Kleser charged as an adult. There is an active battle between the parties as to the admissibility of various psychological reports on Kleser, and the status of proposed expert witnesses. The defense, in fact, has asked that a provision of state law be declared unconstitutional.

WHY NOT JUST BAIL HIM OUT?

Also, the cost of bailing out Corey Kleser (should you chose to do so) keeps rising. It will cost you $250,000 cash for the murder count, an additional $5,000 for the first battery charge, and another $3,500 for the most recent case. Consider it an investment in a young man’s future. You never know how he might show his appreciation some day.