Jeremy Deppisch, a former registered nurse at the Department of Corrections’ Ellsworth Correctional in Union Grove, faces about 125 years in prison for three counts of second-degree sexual assault by correctional staff, office fraud, theft, and providing medication to an inmate without a prescription from a physician.
Deppisch made his first court appearance in the case Tuesday afternoon at the Racine County Courthouse.
According to court documents, an inmate at Ellsworth told investigators of three instances in January where she and Deppisch had oral sex in the prison’s health services unit.
She said “she would be called down by Deppisch or go during meal times” to meet him.
The inmate also said in one instance, Deppisch gave her the antibiotic, Amoxicillin. Investigators later discovered a doctor’s name on the prescription, and that doctor “...when interviewed, advised, he was out of the country...”
In court, his attorney told Judge Alice Rudebusch, Deppisch left Ellsworth Correctional and is now working in the healthcare field for Froedtert.
His attorney admitted Deppisch didn’t tell his new employer about the pending charges.
Rudebusch ordered Deppisch to inform Froedtert about the charges. His next court appearance is Aug. 8.
Deppisch and his attorney didn’t want to comment in court Tuesday.
The Department of Corrections sent TODAY'S TMJ4 the following statement:
The Department of Corrections has no tolerance for sexual harassment or sexual abuse. All employees are held to high standards of ethics and professionalism and any identified violations of Department work rules will be addressed in line with state law. We also refer allegations of potential criminal behavior to law enforcement for investigation.
The Department has a dedicated unit which works with all Department facilities to meet and exceed federal standards to prevent sexual misconduct.
When the Department received allegations of misconduct in this case, we began an internal investigation and contacted local law enforcement.
Deppisch was hired March 2017 and his employment ended in February 2018.
As Deppisch has been charged criminally, we are not able to discuss the Department’s investigation or outcome.- Tristan D. Cook
Communications Director
Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Froedtert issued the following statement to TODAY'S TMJ4:
Froedtert Hospital is committed to protecting the safety and well-being of all patients. We take seriously any violation of our pledge to provide exceptional care to all with dignity and respect. We immediately began an internal investigation as soon as we became aware of the situation. The individual has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of legal proceedings.
