Katoine Richardson – the Fitchburg man accused in the incident that led to the shooting of a Madison police officer – openly flashed guns on Facebook in 2020 while out on bail for a pending criminal case, Wisconsin Right Now has exclusively learned.
Instead of being held accountable for that, he remained on the streets to allegedly re-offend. And re-offend. And re-offend some more, being given signature or very low bond amounts in new cases.
On Facebook, Richardson highlighted the words “bang bang” on his profile and called himself “BIGG BANGO.” People referred to him as “bang” on Facebook.
We confirmed Richardson’s social media accounts with sources in the know. He also has a Snapchat account, but we haven’t been able to access those posts. The current referred charges reveal that he was adjudicated of a juvenile offense that was the equivalent to a felony, so it is a felony for him to possess a firearm. But that didn’t stop him from openly flashing guns on Facebook.
He wrote on Facebook, “Works at Dont worry bout how I make my money, just know that im makin it. Johnson College Prep ’15.” Richardson wrote that he is from Chicago and went to Madison West High School.
We previously revealed that Richardson had 22 open charges in eight criminal cases at the time of the officer’s shooting. Authorities have released few details on the shooting of the officer, and they have not said that Richardson fired the round that struck him. However, they have said in a news release that Richardson was wanted, had a gun, and fleeing from police when the officer was shot. The officer, who was shot on State Street on Oct. 10, is expected to survive.
This photo was posted on January 18, 2021 at which time Richardson was out on bond for multiple cases.
One photo we obtained showing Richardson flashing a gun came on Sept. 1, 2020. A second photo shows him flashing a gun on Feb. 28, 2020. He was out on bail in an open misdemeanor criminal case at the time. He is also in photos appearing to flash gang signs, smoking what appears to possibly be marijuana, and openly writing about drug use. “These madison weed mans ask for too much I just wanna get High😭🙄,” a post on his page says in October 2020, sharing a screenshot of a conversation that appeared to be about a drug deal.
His first adult criminal case was filed Nov. 5. 2019. It’s still pending. The charges were for receiving or concealing stolen property, operate vehicle without owner’s consent – passenger, and resisting or obstructing an officer.
He was later charged in seven other cases in 2020-2021 before the officer’s shooting incident.
We found a string of Facebook pages for Richardson using variations of the same nicknames. “For all the ‘bDK’ mfs who am i🧐🤔,” he wrote in one post. According to the Urban Dictionary, BDK can stand for Black Disciple Killers, a reference to the notorious and violent Gangster Disciples gang.
He posted about the suspects accused in connection with the murder of a Madison doctor and her husband, saying that they should be freed and adding, “They taking all my (N words).”
On Nov. 5, 2019, Court Commissioner Brian Asmus gave Richardson a signature bond of $500. Various hearings were held including a final pre-trial hearing on Feb. 26, 2020.There was a hearing on April 6, 2021 that involved an “informal conference.” A status conference was set for June 4, 2021. A hearing was set next for June 29, 2021, and then a pre-trial conference for Oct. 8.
There were several long periods of time with no action on the case – from an April 14, 2020 pre-trial conference date to an August 3, 2020 judicial transfer. Then, there wasn’t a hearing again until Dec. 9, 2020 (an informal conference). There was another informal conference in April 2021, one in June 2021, and one in October 2021.
Richardson’s top visible post is from September, when he complained that someone stole a videogame player from his car.
He shared a story headlined, “8 Warning Signs You’re Mentally and Emotionally Exhausted.”
In September, he wrote, “Soons I get tints I’m shooting to the city.” He wrote recently about getting his “first car.”
Last spring, he flashed a massive wad of cash on Facebook.
Katoine Richardson’s Open Cases
Filed Nov. 5. 2019
1) Receiving or concealing stolen property
2) Operate vehicle without owner’s consent – passenger
3) Resisting or obstructing an officer
All misdemeanors
Case Details
Nov. 5, 2019, signature bond of $500 set by Court Commissioner Brian Asmus. [We wrote about Asmus before when he allowed Milwaukee County Judge Brett Blomme to have unsupervised contact with his two young children, over a prosecutor’s objection, despite the fact that Blomme was accused of sharing and downloading multiple videos showing the graphic rape of young boys, including toddlers, one who was crying during the assault. The court commissioner, while calling the allegations “certainly disturbing,” also rejected a prosecutor’s request for $2,500 bail, opting instead for a $500 signature bond in the Blomme case.]
Various hearings were held including a final pre-trial hearing on Feb. 26, 2020.
There was a hearing on April 6, 2021 that involved an “informal conference.” A status conference was set for June 4, 2021. A hearing was set next for June 29, 2021, and then a pre-trial conference for Oct. 8.
There were several long periods of time with no action on the case – from an April 14, 2020 pre-trial conference date to an August 3, 2020 judicial transfer. Then, there wasn’t a hearing again until Dec. 9, 2020 (an informal conference). There was another informal conference in April 2021, one in June 2021, and one in October 2021.
Filed Aug. 21, 2020
1) Operating vehicle without owner’s consent-passenger – misdemeanor
2) Bail jumping – misdemeanor
3) Two counts Operating vehicle without consent of owner – passenger – party to the crime, misdemeanor
Case Details: Court Commissioner Jason Hanson gave him a $500 signature bond in both cases. Status conference set for Dec. 3.
Filed Sept. 24, 2020
1) Felony burglary- armed with a dangerous weapon, party to a crime
2) Four misdemeanor theft counts, party to a crime
3) Two felony counts of burglary- building or dwelling
4) Three misdemeanor bail jumping charges
5) Receiving or Concealing Stolen Property, party to a crime
Overall: 11 counts including three felony counts.
Case Details: Court Commissioner W. Scott McAndrew gave him a signature bond on Oct. 19, 2020.
On Dec. 1, 2020, Judge Julie Genovese went a step farther and removed a 10 p.m. curfew. “CT: so long as defendant has verified employment, curfew is removed. If he loses his job curfew will go back into effect. PTS to inform court if he becomes unemployed.” GPS was ordered.
On March 17, 2021, a bench warrant was issued. There was a “violation report.” He was in custody for another bail hearing March 18. Bail was raised by Court Commissioner Brian Asmus to $1,000 cash. He posted the bail the same day.
On June 17, 2021, he didn’t show up for court. A warrant wasn’t issued because the prosecutor wanted to wait to see if he showed up for another hearing.
Oct. 18, 2021, pre-trial conference. The state is working on a global settlement of all his cases. Status conference set for Dec. 3, 2021.
Filed March 12, 2021
1) Felony bail jumping
2) Misdemeanor hit and run
Case Details: Bail set at $250 by Court Commissioner Brian Asmus
May 17, 2021, bench warrant issued.
Back in court on June 17 for a bail/bond hearing. The warrant was vacated because he had appeared on another case.
Pretrial conference held Oct. 8. Status conference set for Dec. 3.
Filed March 18, 2021
1) Felony bail jumping
Case Details: Bond set at $100 by Court Commissioner Brian Asmus, who ordered Richardson not to operate a motor vehicle and to be at his home by 10 p.m.
Pretrial conference on Oct. 8.
Status conference set for Dec. 3.
Filed May 19, 2021: Misdemeanor criminal damage to property
Bond set at $500 by Court Commissioner Brian Asmus.
Pre-trial conference set for Oct. 8. Status conference set for Dec. 3.
Filed May 19, 2021
1) Criminal Damage to Property
Case Details: Bond set at $500 by Court Commissioner Brian Asmus.
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