'Human Error' Led To Low Bail For Waukesha Parade Suspect: DA

MILWAUKEE, WI — An assistant district attorney with 2½ years of experience in prosecuting felony domestic violence cases made a "human error" in setting a $1,000 bail amount for a man who authorities said later drove his SUV into a Waukesha parade and struck multiple marchers, the district attorney said.

Darrell Brooks Jr., 39, is charged with six counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of Virginia Sorenson, LeAnna Owen, Tamara Durand, Jane Kulich, Wilhelm Hospel and Jackson Sparks. Brooks is accused of driving his SUV through a crowd of paradegoers on Nov. 21.

Milwaukee District Attorney John T. Chisholm called the bail "inappropriately low" in a previous statement, considering the violent charges that were pending against Brooks.

See Also: Waukesha Christmas Parade: SUV Driver Faced Previous Charges: DA

Brooks was charged with felony bail jumping, battery, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct. His bail was originally set to $10,000 and was eventually lowered to $500.

A young assistant district attorney saw the $500 bail amount and doubled it, Chisholm told Milwaukee County supervisors in a Zoom call. She was supposed to see a public safety assessment on Brooks before adjusting bail, but it wasn't uploaded to her computer, he added.

"That's a mistake. That's human error," Chisholm said. "And it just set in set in motion a chain of events that resulted in a tragedy. And again, not trying to not trying to lessen our responsibility for that. But that's it."

The assistant district attorney wasn't named by Chisholm, but he told supervisors that she had 2½ years of experience and was prosecuting violent domestic violence felony cases.

"You had a young assistant district attorney trying to do the very best she could under really difficult circumstances, and she made a mistake," Chisholm said. He added that his office was overwhelmed and lost six attorney positions since 2018.

Brooks was charged with a sixth first-degree intentional homicide charge Monday, court records showed. Brooks' bail remains at $5 million.

Jackson Sparks, 8, died from his injuries after being taken to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee following the parade incident in Waukesha. One child remains in serious condition, and four are in fair condition at Children's Hospital.

Read More At Patch:

• Man Charged In Christmas Parade Deaths Feels 'Demonized': Report
• 'Jerseys For Jackson' Seeks To Honor Child Killed In Parade
• Child Injured At Christmas Parade Remains In Serious Condition