A 20-year-old Sussex woman is headed to state prison after admitting she illegally had a gun, capping off a troubling run that includes a notorious case where the family’s dog was killed while in her care.
Kielee Sonnemann was sentenced Thursday on one count of possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. The three-year initial prison term, followed by three years of extended supervision, stems from a September break-in where prosecutors say roughly a dozen guns were taken from an empty house. The new punishment comes on the heels of her 2024 animal-mistreatment conviction.
Prison Term Handed Down At Waukesha Courthouse
Court records show Sonnemann pleaded no contest to the felon-in-possession charge, while a related burglary count was dismissed on April 9. Judge David Maas ordered three years in prison plus three years of extended supervision, giving her credit for 107 days already served, according to FOX6 Milwaukee.
Prosecutors Detail Late-Night Gun Raid
According to prosecutors, Sonnemann and others broke into a vacant home on Silver Spring Drive last September and made off with about a dozen firearms. One member of the group later turned over two of the guns and cooperated with detectives. Judge Maas underscored the seriousness of the crime in court, saying, "There are not many crimes that involve a personal violation the way that a home invasion does," according to CBS 58.
Earlier Animal-Mistreatment Case Involving Family Dog
The gun case follows an incident that already had Sussex residents rattled. In November 2024, Sonnemann pleaded guilty to mistreatment of an animal after the family’s 8-year-old chihuahua, Batman, was discovered stabbed and hidden beneath blankets. She was sentenced to nine months in the Waukesha County Jail and a period of supervision, according to WTMJ.
At that hearing, Sonnemann addressed Batman’s owners directly, telling the judge she was "truly sorry for the harm that I’ve caused your family," according to the outlet’s reporting.
Legal Context For Felon-In-Possession Charge
Under Wisconsin law, anyone with a felony conviction is barred from possessing a firearm. Violations are prosecuted under Wis. Stat. § 941.29, which spells out the offense and potential penalties, according to Justia. Sonnemann’s no-contest plea resolved the gun charge, while the burglary count tied to the same incident was dismissed by the court.
Co-Defendant Awaits Court Date As Neighbors React
A co-defendant, now-17-year-old Samuel Stryker, is still scheduled for a plea and sentencing hearing in May, CBS 58 reports.
Neighbors and Batman’s family told reporters they have been shaken by the back-to-back cases. One homeowner summed up their feelings with a blunt "lock her up" comment, while Batman’s owners said Sonnemann’s earlier apology "wasn't believable," according to WISN.
