July 31, 2024 – Washington Co., WI – The saga of escaped registered sex offender Brandon Cortez King has been updated as King is now back in custody after he was released by the State Department of Corrections on July 2, 2024, escaped July 3, 2024, and was reportedly picked up in Milwaukee County on July 24, 2024.
Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis said, “King was taken into custody on 7/24 in Milwaukee County and transported to our jail on 7/26 at 10:26 a.m. I believe Probation and Parole brought him back here.”
July 3, 2024 was the second time King had been released as a registered sex offender and the second time he escaped. The first time was
August 2019 when he was released and cut off his GPS monitoring bracelet and was on the run for a month before being taken into custody, again, and sentenced to six years in prison.A record search shows King is currently at the Washington County Jail.
Below is the CCAP posting the last time King cut off his GPS following a release by the DOC in 2019.
There is no word, as of Tuesday, July 30, 2024, when King will next be in court.
Below are previous stories about King’s escape and the local law enforcement not being notified by Department of Correction.
July 24, 2024 – Washington Co., WI – Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis said the Department of Correction failed to notify local law enforcement after registered sex offender Brandon Cortez King escaped again following his release July 2, 2024.
It was July 15, 2024 when WashingtonCountyInsider.com contacted DOC and an email response indicated King escaped again on July 3, 2024.
During calls to local law enforcement regarding the story about King, it was determined they had not been notified by DOC that King had escaped.
An open records request submitted July 19, 2024, to the DOC asking for correspondence with Washington County law enforcement regarding Brandon King and his escape has so far, as of July 23, 2024, has had no response.
Sheriff Schulteis said, “I requested she (DOC) contact me with the resolution to make sure it does not happen again. I have also asked my staff to have in increased presence at the address on CTH NN, especially during this investigative phase. I will let you know when I hear more….”
Previously published articles on this story are posted below.
July 20, 2024 – Washington Co., WI – Washington County Sheriff and West Bend Police are contacting the Department of Corrections after a story was posted on WashingtonCountyInsider.com that a registered sex offender had escaped, again, but neither local department was notified he got away.
According to social media post on July 8, 2024, the Washington County Sheriff notified the public about Brandon Cortez King being released July 2, 2024, and he will be residing on CTH NN in the Town of Jackson. The Department of Corrections was in charge of release and King would be “monitored closely by WI-DOC Division of Community.”
Neighbors noticed King as the same person who in August 2019 was released and cut off his GPS monitoring bracelet and was on the run for a month before being taken into custody, again and sentenced to six years in prison.
Fast forward to July 16, 2024, when police and sheriffs were contacted to ask how the community could be assured King would not try to escape again.
Both law enforcement outlets said there could be that possibility, but he would be monitored closely.
A call was also placed July 18, 2024, to Department of Corrections and an email was received that King had already escaped July 3, 2024.
Calls were placed again to the Sheriff and Police asking if they were notified. Both, checked into it and said they were not. Below is correspondence from Sheriff Martin Schulteis.
West Bend Police Lt. Brian McAndrews said, “West Bend Police were notified July 3, 2024, by DOC of Brandon’s release into the community on CTH NN but we did not receive any type of follow-up communication from them that he had absconded from that residence or took off from supervision. Why that is, I don’t know. We will check with DOC if it might have been an oversight. We are certainly aware of it now, but we didn’t receive any official notification from DOC.”
Questioned whether this is a pattern. “Not that I’m aware of,” said McAndrews.
Questioned whether police are normally notified, “We are and we do follow up with our sex offenders on a regular basis and make sure their registries are up to date for those who are city residents. We check them on a regular basis,” said McAndrews.
McAndrews suggested contacting DOC and we have, however the voicemail to Beth Hardtke, DOC communications, has not been set up as of July 19, 2024. 608-228-4315
An open records request was submitted July 19, 2024, to the DOC asking for correspondence with Washington County law enforcement regarding Brandon King and his escape.
Law enforcement has been asked how the community can feel safe if/when registered sex offenders are released and how can the community feel safe when law enforcement isn’t notified when the sex offenders escape? Is this a one-off or an ongoing occurrence?
This is a working story, and more information will be posted when details are available.
Below are initial stories published about registered sex offender. Brandon Cortez King
July 18, 2024 – Washington Co., WI – A recently released registered sex offender, Brandon Cortez King, who was released July 2, 2024, has been confirmed by officials as the same man released in August 2019, who cut off his GPS bracelet in West Bend and went missing for a month. Apparently, he’s now done it again according to the Department of Corrections.
A request was made for more information in order to assure the public this wouldn’t happen again. Below is the response from Beth Hardtke Director of Communications Office of Public Affairs | Office of the Secretary
Here’s what I can tell you about Mr. King:
Brandon C. King, 36, was released from prison on July 2. On July 3, he failed to comply with GPS requirements and absconded from supervision. The Department of Corrections (DOC) has issued an apprehension request and is working with the U.S. Marshals to locate him.
It is important to note that King served the prison sentence ordered by the court that convicted him. DOC does not have any discretion in determining when someone should be released to extended supervision in the community. That determination is part of the sentence a court hands down.
Thanks,
Beth
Wisconsin Department of Corrections
608-228-4315
Below is the email sent to DOC earlier Thursday, July 18, 2024.
—–Original Message—–
Sent: Thursday, July 18, 2024 10:28 AM
Subject: Sex offender release
Michaela,
Sex offender Brandon King has been released in Jackson.
He is the same man released in August 2019 and within 20 hours he cut off his GPS and was in the wind.
I am working on a today, July 18 deadline
How can you reassure neighbors this won’t happen again?
Is he wearing a higher-end GPS this time?
What do you tell neighbors who have children who do not feel safe?
What other restrictions were put in place this time considering the law and courts know King has a history as a flight risk.
Please confirm receipt.
I will watch for your timely response
Judy Steffes
262-334-4526
WashingtonCountyInsider.com
Below are stories published during the original incident.
Calls have been placed to the Washington County Sheriff for more information.
This is a working story and more details will be posted when information is available.
September 27, 2019 – Washington Co., WI – The Washington County Sheriff’s most wanted suspect has been taken into custody by authorities in the City of Milwaukee.
Law enforcement has been searching for Brandon Cortez King since August 6 after he walked away from a halfway house in the Town of Jackson only five hours after being released from his 14-year prison sentence which he served for committing various child sex crimes. King then cut off his GPS monitoring bracelet in the City of West Bend and disappeared.
On Thursday the Milwaukee Police Department received an anonymous tip that Washington County’s Most Wanted was in the area outside of Aurora Sinai Medical Center. Two District 3 officers were dispatched to the area.
These officers researched and learned the subject they received the tip on was most likely King. They responded to the area. After not locating anyone outside they decided to walk around on the inside of the hospital. They located a man that matched the description. They made contact with the suspect who identified himself as someone other than King. The suspect was taken into custody and was eventually confessed to being Brandon Cortez King. King had made changes to his hairstyle in an effort to disguise himself.
Brandon King has been charged in Washington County Circuit Court and could face an additional 6 years in prison for Tampering with a Global Positioning System. He also has an outstanding warrant through the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. He is on supervision until 2028. Law enforcement officials will continue to investigate who may have been assisting him since his escape.
We would like to thank all law enforcement officers, our partners with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and community members who have been diligently searching for King since his escape in early August.
Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis would like to extend special gratitude to the two district three Milwaukee Police Officers who captured King.
These two officers took an anonymous tip with limited information and developed a known suspect which they then located in a busy hospital environment and took him into custody without incident. “I commend these officers for their dedication, commitment, and thoroughness, the community is a safer place because of them,” said Schulteis.
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