Stabbing suspect found to be in country illegally

New information has come about in the case of Fermin Teodoro Lopez-Mendoza, who is in Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office’s custody after stabbing his wife in the stomach in a March 22nd incident.

Law enforcement as well as medical aid were called to an address on Highway K, just southeast of the city of Fond du Lac at 4:30 PM last Friday for the report of the stabbing. Mendoza fled the scene before authorities arrived, but they captured him in Ozaukee County about a day later.

Now, Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney has announced Federal Homeland Security confirmed to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office that Mendoza is illegally in the United States.

Court records show Mendoza has had run ins with law enforcement in Fond du Lac and Dodge Counties previously for operating a vehicle without a license and without insurance. KFIZ asked Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt why Mendoza’s immigration status wasn’t addressed during those encounters and Waldschmidt said, “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is currently not placing immigration violation holds on illegal aliens stopped for traffic violations. Law enforcement is instructed to cite and release from the traffic stop.”

Waldschmidt went on to say “It leads to the broader topic, with some states like Texas looking to create state legislation to make illegal immigration a violation of state law, but there were immediate challenges to the constitutionality of such laws, continuing to tie the hands of local law enforcement even in border states where the problems run rampant.”

Mendoza made his initial appearance in court yesterday where cash bond was set at $2 million. He has been charged with Attempted First Degree Intentional Homicide, Mayhem, First Degree Reckless Injury, and Aggravated Battery. All charges contain domestic violence and dangerous weapon enhancers.

His preliminary hearing is set for April 4th.