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Ozuna convicted for Pagel’s death

Faces up to 60 years in prison

By Robert Cloud


One of two defendants charged with homicide and robbery for the April 11, 2016, death of Matthew Pagel near Clintonville was convicted Monday, March 27.

Adam J. Ozuna, 25, Bear Creek, entered a plea of no contest to first-degree reckless homicide. He faces a sentence of up to 60 years in prison.

Initially charged with first-degree intentional homicide with up to life in prison, Ozuna pleaded to a lesser charge.

He was scheduled for a jury trial on April 10-14.

A charge of robbery with use of force was dismissed but read into the record for sentencing purposes.

A second defendant in the case, Zachary T. Hohn, 17, Tigerton, is scheduled for a five-day trial, beginning June 12.

He was also charged with first-degree intentional homicide and robbery.

Victim’s body found in ditch
In the early morning hours of April 11, 2016 a woman called the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office and reported a body was in the west ditch of Airport Road in the town of Matteson.

Deputies responded to the scene, where they found a man’s body in the ditch about one-tenth of a mile north of County Trunk D.

The deceased had injuries to his face, dried blood coming from his nose, swollen lips and significant bruising to the side of his face and eye socket.

The deputies also found drag marks from the road to where the body lay.

Investigators were unable to identify the body for several hours.

Later that same morning, Clintonville police received a call from Pagel’s mother. She said Pagel was missing and provided a description of him matching that of the body.

Pagel’s roommate at the Clintonville Motel told Waupaca County investigators she last saw Pagel at 11:50 p.m. April 10, just before she left for work.

She also said she received a text message from Pagel indicating he was meeting with Adam Martinez, which police say is an alias used by Adam Ozuna. The alleged purpose of their meeting was so Pagel could buy Adderall.

Ozuna and Hohn allegedly picked up Pagel at the motel, attempted to rob him, killed him in the ensuing fight, then dumped the body.

They drove to Airport Road and Ozuna pulled Pagel’s body onto the roadway, investigators say.

Hohn became concerned the body should not be left in the middle of the road, so he allegedly dragged the body into the ditch.

The two suspects drove away, then realized they had not taken Pagel’s cellphone, which contained text messages from them.

They returned and took the cellphone, according to investigators. They also kept Pagel’s jacket and $200 in cash, which were later turned over to the police.

Sentencing
Ozuna is scheduled to appear before Judge Raymond Huber for sentencing on May 30.

He is currently an inmate at Waupun Correctional Institution.

On June 16, 2016, Winnebago County Circuit Court revoked his probation on a 2015 felony marijuana conviction and sentenced him to 18 months in prison.

In July 2010, Ozuna was sentenced to two years in state prison for a felony marijuana conviction.

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