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Homicide charge for Plaza incident, probations set up
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Two men were charged Tuesday in the stabbing of a Madison man outside the Plaza Tavern last week.
Justin Stout, 31, of Madison, was charged with reckless homicide in the death of Juan Bernal, 22, of Madison.
Stout’s bail was set last Thursday for $250,000 but has been changed to a cash bail and lowered to $100,000.
Travis Knapp, 34, of Madison, was charged for harboring and aiding a felon. He also faces one count of felony bail jumping because he was drinking alcohol at the time of the incident, a violation of the terms of his bond.
Knapp, a popular street painter who set up shop on the corner of Gilman and State streets, has a cash bail of $5,000.
“Mr. Knapp clearly participated in the disturbance that occurred outside the Plaza Tavern,” Assistant District Attorney Mike Verveer said, adding Knapp is accused of hiding the knife Stout used.
Both men were ordered by the judge to not have any contact with one another or anyone in Bernal’s family.
Additionally, both must stay away from State Street and are not to allowed to consume alcohol.
Tracey Lencioni, assistant state public defender, spoke on behalf of Stout and Knapp. She said Knapp has remained at the same residence for five years and has worked steadily throughout that time. She added he continued to pay his required child support and had a consistent attendance record in court.
In the Friday bail hearing, Verveer said Stout, a former resident of Knoxville, Tenn., is a high flight risk because he has not lived in the area for very long.
While Knapp has lived in Madison for seven years now, he has criminal records in California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana and Nevada.
“He’s been all over the country and gets in trouble all over the country it appears.” Verveer said.
The judge also ordered both defendants not to leave Dane County.
In the Friday bail hearing, Verveer said Bernal died of “multiple stab wounds to the chest dealt with great force” resulting in two punctures wounds to his heart.
The fatal incident occurred after the men had a conflict regarding the music on the jukebox inside the Plaza Tavern.
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This is insane. Justin Stout acted recklessly and irrationally and should not be allowed out on bail. He is a huge flight risk and, speaking as someone who was there at the time of the incident, a threat to Juan’s friends, the Plaza staff, and Travis Knapp. I myself will be scared to be downtown if Stout makes bail.
Travis Knapp has a daughter in Georgia that he abandoned and has never paid child support for.