Man cIaims he was high when he kiIIed the man Iiving with him right after teIIing the victim that ‘he was going to hurt some peopIe if a femaIe person they both knew was not aIright’, then pIaced the firearm in the victim’s hand in an attempt to make the death appear self-infIicted: DA

Wisconsin – A Wisconsin man appeared in county court earlier this week for his arraignment, where the judge formally announced the charges against him and he entered a plea of not guilty. The 35-year-old defendant, D. Stenson, stands accused in connection with the death of his friend, 31-year-old J. Soccha, in what Wisconsin authorities are treating as an intentionaI homicide. He is being held in the county jail on a cash bond set at $1 million, and prosecutors have indicated that, if convicted, he could face a life prison sentence.

The defendant’s arraignment was the first official court proceeding in the case, marking the start of the judicial process. During an arraignment, a judge typically reads the charges to the defendant and allows them to enter a plea — in this instance the defendant pleaded not guilty to all counts. The arraignment does not determine guilt or innocence, but it does set the stage for future hearings and the pre-trial process.

Wisconsin authorities initially became involved on the afternoon of September l4 after someone called 911 reporting that a man had been shot inside their home. Officers who responded found the victim inside the residence with a gunshot wound to the head. A firearm was in his hand, and he was in critical condition. He was transported to a hospital, where he died from his injuries several days later.

The defendant was arrested the same evening officers responded to the scene. Investigators said he had been the victim’s houssemate and was present in the home earlier that day. The criminal complaint alleges the two men were talking over a food when the conversation turned to a female person they both knew. According to Wisconsin authorities, the defendant made statements about hurting “some people” if the woman was not alright.

Investigators allege the defendant then retrieved a firearm belonging to the victim and went back to the conversation. The complaint describes a brief emotional exchange during which the two men touched foreheads. According to Wisconsin authorities, the victim attempted to calm things by saying he would speak with the woman the next day. During the conversation, the victim reportedly told the defendant that he loved him and that the woman was all right.

What followed is disputed. In statements to investigators, the defendant initially said his memory became “hazy” after the exchange, but he recalled hearing the victim’s body fall. He told police he then left the home. Law enforcement says he later admitted he placed the firearm in the victim’s hand before leaving, which they believe was an attempt to make the shooting appear self-infIicted. That act is cited in the criminal complaint as evidence tampering.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin authorities say the defendant removed an ankle monitor he was wearing after leaving the scene and made a phone call to a woman in which he said he had killed his friend. That woman alerted police, which helped prompt the initial law enforcement response.

Shortly after, an officer walking in a nearby area spotted a man matching the defendant’s description. When approached, he initially gave the name “James” and claimed his roommate had shot himself before fleeing. Investigators said the defendant later admitted he gave a false name because he was afraid.

Once in custody, the defendant made additional statements about the incident. Law enforcement reported that he said he shot his best friend in the head the previous night and made a gesture as if holding a gun to his own temple. In a separate conversation, he reportedly told investigators that he had been high when the shooting occurred.

Court records show the defendant faces multiple charges related to the case, including first-degree intentionaI homicide, possessing a firearm after having a prior out-of-state felony conviction, and tampering with a GPS tracking device. These charges form the basis for the prosecution’s case moving forward, and the judge’s reading of them at the arraignment officially advanced the matter into the court system.

Following the arraignment, the case will proceed through the pre-trial phase. This period commonly involves discovery, in which both sides exchange evidence, and may include additional hearings on motions or scheduling before a trial date is set. The legal process can be lengthy, particularly in complicated felony cases like this one, and the defendant’s not guilty plea ensures that the matter will go before a judge or jury for a determination of guilt or innocence.