Obregon bound for trial

Andrew Obregon (center) enters a not guilty plea before Kenosha County Court Commissioner Jon Mason Friday on all charges. After Obregon received counsel from court-appointed public defenders Carl Johnson (left) and Kristyne Watson, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. (Photo by Jason Arndt)
Andrew Obregon (center) enters a not guilty plea before Kenosha County Court Commissioner Jon Mason Friday on all charges. After Obregon received counsel from court-appointed public defenders Carl Johnson (left) and Kristyne Watson, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. (Photo by Jason Arndt)

He waives his right for a preliminary hearing

By Jason Arndt

Staff Writer

Andrew Obregon, accused of 32 charges, including first-degree intentional homicide, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Friday in Kenosha County Intake Court.

The 32-year-old, who allegedly went on a 22-day crime spree that included multiple vehicle thefts, pleaded not guilty to all charges and was bound over for trial by Court Commissioner Jon Mason.

At his initial bond hearing Nov. 4, Obregon allegedly confessed to 30 of the 32 charges in the 29-page criminal complaint.

Obregon pleaded not guilty to the two remaining charges – the homicide charge in the murder of Tywon Anderson and attempted kidnapping stemming from an Oct. 13 car-jacking incident in Brighton.

“You do understand…that if you waive the preliminary hearing, you can’t come back into this courtroom?” Mason asked Obregon.

If convicted on all charges, Obregon would face a maximum of life imprisonment plus 439 years.

“He is aware of all those charges and the maximum penalties associated with those charges,” said Kristyne Watson, Obregon’s court-appointed public defender.

Obregon’s spree allegedly began Sept. 21, when Obregon’s purported drug dealer, Anderson, was reported missing by Anderson’s sister, Tahitha.

Five days later, authorities discovered Anderson’s remains in a cornfield on the 14400 block of County Road A in the town of Paris.

Following the discovery of the body, Obregon allegedly eluded Kenosha County and Racine County authorities on five occasions leading up to his capture in Illinois Oct. 13.

From Sept. 26-Oct. 13, he allegedly stole up to seven vehicles, burglarized Countryside Mini Market in Bristol and committed an armed robbery of Speedway gas station on Highway 50 and Interstate 94 in Pleasant Prairie, according to the criminal complaint.

Two vehicle thefts allegedly were from Oct. 2-6 at GT Motorsports in Racine, where he was an employee seven years ago.                  Obregon was formally charged on both counts in Racine County Circuit Court Wednesday.

Obregon’s last vehicle theft occurred at a Brighton residence, where he is accused of beating a woman, necessitating Flight For Life helicopter transport to Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa.

After Obregon allegedly stole her vehicle,     Kenosha County authorities pursued Obregon south into Illinois, where Lake County authorities took over.

In Lake County, Obregon fled east towards Zion, and was apprehended when OnStar – at police request – disabled the vehicle.

After a one-mile foot pursuit, he was apprehended by a Zion police officer.

Obregon had nine charges filed against him in Lake County Circuit before he was extradited to Kenosha County Nov. 3.

Prior to Friday’s hearing, the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office and Obregon’s defense discussed the release of all vehicles.

“The defendant has no objections to the release of vehicles described in the complaint to victims,” Deputy District Attorney Michael Graveley told Mason.

Obregon is due for a Jan. 21 pre-trial hearing in Kenosha County Circuit Court.

The news that Obregon remains in custody comes as a relief for Quantisha Etinne, of Racine.

Etinne, 32, is the mother of Tywon Anderson’s 10-year-old daughter Shamya Anderson.

The mother told reporters after the proceeding that Shamya is grieving through the loss of Tywon.

“Her and her dad were really close. She loved her dad,” Etinne said. “She writes songs about her dad.”

Etinne said she plans to seek counseling for Shamya to ease the grieving process.


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