This post originally appeared at https://www.wisconsinrightnow.com/julius-freeman/

A Fond du Lac man was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of extended supervision after 35 years for a homicide stemming from an armed robbery, and Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney highlighted the sentence to stress that his office and law enforcement will “aggressively hold violent criminals accountable.”

Toney announced that a 24-year-old Fond du Lac man, Julius Freeman Jr. was sentenced by Judge Anthony Nehls to a life sentence with the possibility of release to extended supervision after 35 years for his involvement in a homicide.

The state recommended Freeman be sentenced to a term of life imprisonment without the possibility of release to extended supervision.

A jury previously convicted Freeman on July 26, 2023, of first-degree intentional homicide, as a party to a crime, and armed robbery, as a party to a crime, stemming from the October 17, 2021 death of Benzel T. Rose on 8th Street in the City of Fond du Lac.

The victim was found with a single gunshot wound to the head and his firearm and a large amount of cash were stolen. The testimony revealed that Eric Perry and Julius Freeman committed an armed robbery of Rose at the residence and it is alleged that Eric Perry was the individual that shot Rose.

In a press release, Toney said, “This case sends an unmistakable message that if you aid another in the commission of an armed robbery that results in the murder of another you will be held accountable. Gun violence will never be accepted as a new normal in our community and we will work with law enforcement to aggressively hold violent criminals accountable. I am grateful for the prosecution and law enforcement team that helped take this dangerous criminal off the streets.”

The release continued, “This case was investigated by the City of Fond du Lac Police Department with Detective Nick Hahn as the lead investigator. It was prosecuted by District Attorney Eric Toney, DDA Barry Braatz, and ADA Catherine Block, along with the assistance of support staff and victim witness professionals. Eric Perry has pending charges including first-degree intentional homicide and is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty. Perry’s jury trial is set to commence March 25, 2024.”