The 28-year-old Brainerd man, who was found guilty in the beating death of another man on Aug. 14, 2008, in downtown Brainerd, and who violated his probation this year will not have to face a 98-month prison sentence.
Judge Erik Askegaard sentenced Bradley Thomas Lewis to one year of probationary jail time on Aug. 21 in Crow Wing District Court.
Lewis could have faced prison time for violating his probation. Part of his 2009 sentence was that if he violates any of the terms of his probation, he could face up to 98 months in prison. Lewis was sentenced to a year in jail for the death of Chad Charles Campbell, which included 15 years of supervised probation.
Lewis, who entered a plea of guilty to first-degree manslaughter in 2009 in exchange for the dismissal of charges of second-degree unintentional murder, first-degree assault, second-degree manslaughter and third-degree assault, had 16 conditions he has had to follow as part of his probation.
According to court records, Lewis violated the conditions of no possession or use of drugs and alcohol and he failed to remain in contact with his probation officer. Lewis violated his probation sometime after Aug. 24, 2011. Lewis was taken into custody on the allegations for violating the terms of his probation on Jan. 3 and he admitted that he violated the conditions on April 23.
Court documents state that Lewis was diagnosed with epilepsy and schizophrenia at an office visit on Aug. 24. 2011, and he was prescribed medications to treat the illnesses. On Sept. 11, 2011, Lewis lost his relationship with his therapist and he started using alcohol and intoxicants.
The court documents stated that after going more than two years on exemplary probation, Lewis was in violation of his probation because of his seizures, epilepsy, accompanied by a disability and being diagnosed with a mental illness, loss of his therapist, making him relapse to alcohol and intoxicants.
Before the 2008 criminal charges against Lewis, court documents said that Lewis would consume 10 or more whiskey drinks every other night and he often used marijuana when he was drinking. The report said that Lewis started using methamphetamines at age 13.
The judge ruled that Lewis must abide by all his previous conditions of his probation and he also will be supervised for the remainder of his sentence. Lewis also must schedule individualized therapy sessions; schedule an updated psychiatric medical assessment and an updated Chemical Use Assessment (CUA ), and if the CUA recommends treatment he shall successfully enter and complete any such treatment. Pending the completion of the CUA, Lewis shall reside with and be supervised by either his mother, step father or his fiancee.
Lewis also must make arrangements for retaining seizure management; activate his disability benefits; and reinstate his insurance and benefits.
Lewis also must not enter for any reason any liquor-selling establishment and not be in downtown Brainerd any time after 5:30 p.m. in the area between South Sixth Street, South Ninth Street, Front Street and Norwood Street.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Lewis in 2008, witnesses indicated that Campbell “seemed like he did not want to fight and had his hands up in a defensive manner when (Lewis) ran around a group of people, struck Campbell one time on the side of the head knocking him to the ground and rendering him unconscious. At that point, (Lewis) left the scene.”
Campbell died Aug. 19, 2008 in St. Cloud Hospital.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851. Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jennewsgirl.
Comments (19)
Add commentunreal
I can tell you this much, if it was found as racially motivated the book would have been thrown at him.
A violent crime is a violent crime. COME ON! That man deserved life in prision not just 98 months and he ends up with a year of probation? I want to puke
Unbelievable!
Since when did he suddenly get some seizure disorder? By all means you should be court ordered to get some financial assistance, and live off the system that is now setting you free with a slap on the hands for killing a man. He needed to serve the 98 months. How many breaks does a person get? He was given a break with the original plea. Now violates and gets an even better deal. Is there any deterrent to his behavior? This is why the system is a revolving door. Let’s not forget that a family lost a loved one due to his actions. How terrible for them to see this guy get yet another oppertunity to live his life freely.
Lewis gets probation???
This ruling by the judge is a travesty of justice. This man should have been sentenced to prison for the remainder of his original court ordered time and probation. He clearly violated his probation, knowingly using alcohol and drugs. He is a danger to society and should not be on the streets, period. He is a killer and in all probability will kill again. He is he scum of the earth.
Charles Rahn
Orlando Police, retired
Orlando, Fl
Ridiculous
Honestly, I'm not a spiteful person but anyone with a sense of justice would know that this sentence is asinine. As Chad's daughter, I have already been through my personal grieving process but I am mortified for my family who still suffers from this tragedy. Especially his 9 year old daughter who will grow up without a father. In Georgia, a 16 year old kid would spend the rest of his life in prison for manslaughter, yet a grown man is scooted out to return to his normal life. This judge was obviously naive and believed that mental issues(most likely from prolonged drug use) were a justification for violating probation....come on! Fortunately but unfortunately I was 33 weeks pregnant when this hearing took place and couldn't be there, but how sad is it that Chad will never meet his first grandson? And the judge wouldn't even allow my impact letter to be read in court. What kind of empathy level is he working on? Obviously none. On a positive note, at least I know what I'll be pursuing aggressively in school now- being a prosecutor. See you all in court to clean up the justice system.
3rd world nation under obama
See what life means to a third world nation . That is what we are becoming under obama and that is what he wants and that is what is going to destroy us.Don;t believe me just wait and see.Life means nothing to a man like obama .
Did you get a nickel for posting that malarkey,
hotrod?
Insane
This is what happens when you take a personal injury/workman's comp attorney and give him the power of being a judge. These types of people were hired as attorney's to create, manipulate, and dramatize a situation to suck the money from others to line their own pockets by telling lies and exaggerating reality. This creates a person who becomes very self-righteous and does not really care about the real victims as they have become wealthy by not having a conscience. In reality, I would assume the judge was somehow connected to Lewis's attorney because that is how the system works in this judge's world. I feel so much sympathy and empathy for the victims family. One recourse would be to file a complaint with Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards as this judge's insane decisions need to be stopped.
murder, no big deal anymore
caught with drugs 7 yrs prison, caught for murder 1 yr local jail and a write up in the local paper defending you, what ever happened to justice and common sense?
murder, no big deal anymore
caught with drugs 7 yrs prison, caught for murder 1 yr local jail and a write up in the local paper defending you, what ever happened to justice and common sense?
Put Lewis behind bars
The judge's ruling on Lewis'hearing is despicable. He ignored the agreed probation conditions that were violated and should have rightfully put Lewis where he should be -behind bars for 10 years.Lewis did not wake up with mental disorders overnight.That is new stuff and the judge was slow enough to fall for it- or so it seems.Lewis is clearly a bully and will live off the taxpayers and likely will hurt or kill someone else.Chad did absolutely nothing to warrant what Lewis did which was cowardly in any way you looked at it.His mother and fiancee are his overseers?Wow!
Tough conditions.THey'll bring the beer.
My thoughts go out to
Chad's family. I hope that all the wonderful memories you have of Chad can ease your bereavement as all this is dragged up again.. I'm thinking of all of you, sending you prayers.
Other probation violators get
Other probation violators get longer sentences that that for a single dirty UA. This guy KILLED someone for no other reason than he was out of control and mean. And he's clearly demonstrated that he's unwilling and unable to comply with the terms of probation, so what do we do? We let him out again? This is not justice. This is a travesty.
Thank you for the suggestion
Thank you for the suggestion missionary. I think my family may just do that.
The Devil Did a Dance
I am a lawyer and I believe in the justice system. I would rather see an "guilty" person go free than an "innocent" person incarcerated. This is not what is being considered in this case. Here, we have a habitual criminal who has killed another human being (who BTW was my stepbrother) and has not only once but twice gotten to skippy doo right out of the courtroom. What in the heck is going on? Is there no accountability? Is there no value for a human life? Food for thought: the department of corrections has a pretty decent medical staff that could do wonders in monitoring his "supposed" medical condition since clearly it was not "supposedly" monitored so well in his home environment in the past. If he "supposedly" went off of his medication while in his home environment and that "caused" him to revert to drugs and alcohol doesn't that just cry out loud that his home environment may not be conducive to "monitor" his "supposed" medical condition? I mean come on people, an institution such as a prison would offer him a far more regimented method of "monitoring" his psychiatric and medical condition, right? This is just embarrassing to the justice system.
The Lewis/Campbell's Beating to Death
I'm Godsmacked! !! That poor family! This man with health & mental problems should be punished like a healthy citizen would! If you can call him that, a "citizen". I live in California, and that decision just floored me!
Unbelievable.
Let me get this straight.
Lewis delivers a blow to Chad Campbell, resulting in the death of Campbell. Lewis is arrested and there is a plea bargain.
Now, a plea bargain is in my understanding an agreement with many conditions which need to be met.
He will spend one year in jail and then it stated clearly that in case Lewis violated his (15 years) probation, he'd be back in jail and be sentenced to the full extention of the law - which is 98 months for killing Chad Campbell.
Aha....very simple one would say.....
After one year of jail Lewis gets out and some time later he screws up and he's locked up again.
Now, what one would think is the normal way of dealings in this kind of situation would be very simple. Meaning, Lewis would be in jail for those 98 months. Hey, that was the 'deal' - that was the plea-bargin.
However, that's not what's happening here.
Lewis will get one year for violation of his probation (minus time served) and will be back on the streets with 15 years of probation.
My pants dropped down when I heard that. Why was there a plea bargain if the judge completely ignored it?
The plea bargain in this case wasn't worth the paper it was written on. Perhaps it was written on toilet paper.....
Everyting is done for the guy who killed another person - and what is done for the family of the victim?
Lewis will be back with his family - what about the victim-survivors?
I'd love to ask the Judge what kind of message he's sending to his community with this kind of ruling.
And I'd like to ask him WHY he ruled the way he ruled - a judge shouldn't have the power to completely ignore a plea bargain.
God help us all!
One more time the courts gave the guilt more respect then the man he killed! He got his sentence he didn't fallow the courts rules, but he gets to try again. What about his victim does he get a second chance? I don't think that the courts should make plea agreements!
Judge Erik Askegaard ...
...this "judge" was appointed:
http://www.mncourts.gov/?page=JudgeBio_v2&printFriendly=true&ID=30533
He must NOT be re-appointed or elected, please remember this !!! What a jerk.
Judge Erik Askegaard needs to go
lendad, does this mean the judge's name will be on the ballot in Nov. ?
I pray that the family can some how have inner peace but continue their pursuit for justice. After filing a complaint to the MN BJS, try contacting a Twin Cities television investigative team to uncover the corrupt, arrogant judge that needs to go. He collects a salary from the public because it is his job to protect society from criminals. I hope one day Lewis moves in next door to the judge and his family.