OWATONNA – Legal proceedings for Roger Schleicher have been delayed due to his request to remove the presiding judge from the case, but the Ellendale man reportedly admitted he lured Jack Johannsen to his home with intent to kill him, according to a criminal complaint.

Friday, January 05, 2001

OWATONNA – Legal proceedings for Roger Schleicher have been delayed due to his request to remove the presiding judge from the case, but the Ellendale man reportedly admitted he lured Jack Johannsen to his home with intent to kill him, according to a criminal complaint.

Schleicher, 48, of Ellendale is accused of shooting the Waseca man last week. He did not offer a reason for the request to change judges.

&uot;I want a different judge … besides you,&uot; he told the presiding Steele County judge during a court appearance this week.

It was Schleicher’s one chance to remove a judge without cause, said Steele County Court Administrator Gordon Meiners.

&uot;They have to show cause on any subsequent removals, so this is his one free shot at removal,&uot; he said.

Schleicher had recently appeared before the judge on Dec. 18 in Waseca County.

Schleicher also refused to apply for a public defender for the second-degree murder charge, even though he said he couldn’t afford counsel.

&uot;It’s a bunch of bull-,&uot; he said. &uot;Oh, you may qualify but, then again, it may have to be reimbursed, later you might have to pay for it. More words. More trash. That’s all you lawyers are about is words, isn’t it?&uot;

The court ordered a public defender to act as standby counsel because of the gravity of the charges, but Schleicher has not yet spoken with him.

&uot;Ultimately he can refuse, but the court is going to appoint standby counsel to help him out, whether he wants it or not,&uot; said Steele County Attorney Douglas Ruth.