TEEN FINED IN DRUG DEATH

Lied To Protect Boyfriend

A young woman who repeatedly lied to protect her drug-dealing boyfriend
during a John Doe proceeding investigating the death of a Middleton
teenager was fined $1,500 Tuesday and ordered to participate in Dane
County's first offender program.

Mackenzie Retelle, 18, was charged with 15 felony counts and one
misdemeanor for lying during her testimony in the secret John Doe
proceeding into the death of 17-year-old Julie Zdeblick, who was found
unconscious in her bedroom on March 6 and later died at a Madison hospital.

An autopsy showed Zdeblick died from ingesting the pain-killer Oxycontin.
The John Doe was called to get witnesses to testify as to where she got the
drug. The prime suspect in the case was Derek Hansen, 21, and Retelle was
his girlfriend, who by her own admission spent most of her time at Hansen's
residence.

But on the witness stand in John Doe sessions on March 23 and March 26, she
testified that she never saw Hansen sell anything other than marijuana on
occasion, and although she admitted Zdeblick was at Hansen's apartment the
night before she died, she insisted Hansen did not sell her any Oxycontin.

After Deputy District Attorney Jason Hanson made it clear that law
enforcement was taking the case seriously and refused to negotiate any deal
with her, Retelle and her attorney asked for a meeting with Dane County
Sheriff's Department detective Kevin Hughes, admitted her testimony was
phony and candidly told Hughes what she knew of the case.

That led to a plea bargain in which Retelle agreed to plead guilty to one
count of felony perjury and one count of misdemeanor false swearing, and
the prosecution agreed to ask for the fine and first-offender program.
Additionally, if Retelle completes the program the felony charge against
her will be dismissed and she will stand convicted of only a misdemeanor.

Retelle apologized profusely in court Tuesday before being sentenced by
Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan. Saying she thought of Zdeblick
every day, Retelle apologized to the Zdeblick family; her own family; Dane
County Circuit Judge Daniel Moeser, who was in charge of the John Doe
proceeding; and detective Hughes and others who worked on the case.

"Although I can't change my past, I can promise my future will be better,"
she said.

Both Deputy District Attorney Hanson and defense attorney Jon Hyland
characterized Retelle's perjury as coming from misplaced loyalty for her
boyfriend, as well as fear.

Hansen has entered no contest pleas to reckless homicide for causing the
death of Zdeblick, as well as eight other drug-related charges. He is
awaiting sentencing.