MADISON, Wis. (WSAU-Wheeler News) -- The Wisconsin Supreme Court said no today to dropping a Stevens Point man's conviction in a murder-for-hire case.
Carlos Cummings, who turned 31 yesterday, is in prison for helping hire Linda Dietze to murder his lover's husband in 2008. In a unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court said Cummings never invoked his right to remain silent, when he told police during an interrogation to take him to his jail cell.A state appeals court ruled last year that Cummings' statement was not clear, and therefore his conviction should be upheld.
Also, the Supreme Court rejected Cummings' claim that he should not have gotten a prison term twice as long as the shooter. Dietze was given seven years, while Cummings got 14 years behind bars. The Supreme Court said Cummings' sentence was not unduly harsh.
Dietze shot James Glodowski at a park in Stevens Point, at the request of Cummings and Glodowski's wife Carla. The husband survived, but he lost an eye.