FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – A Fond du Lac County judge sentenced convicted killer Taylor Schabusiness to 90 days in jail that will run consecutively with the life sentence she’s currently serving.
Newly released body cam footage played in Fond du Lac County court on Monday afternoon shows Schabusiness attacking a nurse and a corrections officer at Taycheedah Correctional Institution two summers ago.
According to a criminal complaint, the nurse had been trying to take a staple out of Schabusiness’ arm when she lunged at her. A corrections officer intervened, a struggle ensued, and the officer ended up using pepper spray on Schabusiness.
Originally, prosecutors charged her with a felony but downgraded it to a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge as part of a plea deal.
In court on Monday afternoon, Schabusiness apologized for the attack.
“I ain’t no ret*** and I didn’t mean to go off on that b**** like that at all, and I’m sorry for that, how it came off like that,” Schabusiness said. “I didn’t mean it to happen that way. I should get 10 days at least on the bracelet or something like that.”
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Her attorney said that the attack was her reaction to the pain of getting the staple removed from her arm. The prosecutor noted that the corrections officer sustained injuries in the attack that have prevented her from returning to work at the prison.
“It (the 90 days of jail time sentence) does need to send a message that whether you’re in prison for life or whether you aren’t in prison for life, that violence against staff members in prison and violence against inmates will not be tolerated,” said assistant district attorney for Fond du Lac County Tessa Button.
Deputies wheeled Schabusiness into the courtroom with handcuffs around her wrists and ankles and restrained her to a chair. There was also a half dozen officers in the courtroom keeping an eye on her. Schabusiness has attacked her lawyers in the past and authorities have taken extra precautions like these ones to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
Despite her violent past, Schabusiness’ lawyer said he doesn’t anticipate that his client will return to court for causing trouble behind bars.
“She seems to be someone who has made some changes in her life,” said her defense attorney Chris Froelich. “I think the fact that she has been incarcerated for a while and has had a chance to dry out and relieve her body of all the drugs has been positive for her. She looks a lot better, more alive today.”
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Froelich represented Schabusiness during her murder trial in Brown County. He took over her current case after she attacked her previous lawyer earlier this ear. He told reporters after the sentencing hearing that he had represented some of Schabusiness’ family members in other cases and had therefore built up a rapport with Taylor over the years.
“I think Taylor Schabusiness just wants to be loved and cared for and have a purpose in life,” he told Local 5 News. “I think with some treatment from professionals at Taycheedah I think she can do better. Every day she can do a lot better. I think she’s on the right path from what you see today I think she’s way better than what she was back in 2022.”
Froelich said they will appeal the 90 day sentence issued by the judge. He said that now that the case is just about resolved, he’s hoping that Schabusiness will get access to more prison programs that she needs to improve herself.
“She has some psychological issues and I think she can benefit from some cognitive therapy,” he said. “I think she’s on the path towards making some progress. I’m hoping that she can get out of segregation and maybe be with the other inmates because she likes to have that human contact with people.”
It appeared that Schabusiness stuck her middle finger up at the judge as deputies wheeled her out of the courtroom at the end of her hearing on Monday afternoon.
