A Marquette University student says she woke up to pounding on her bedroom door before dawn earlier this month, only to hear her roommate shout that someone had broken into their apartment. The two climbed out a window to escape while the intruder remained inside, and Marquette University police arrested him within minutes.
The break-in happened after 5 a.m. on August 2 near 15th Street and Kilbourn Avenue, according to WISN 12 News. The student, whose identity WISN protected, recalled hearing a shattering sound before her roommate yelled, “There’s someone in the house.” Both students called 911 and escaped through a window while the man remained inside, and Marquette police arrived by the time they climbed out.
Officers took the suspect, identified as Deandre Morgan, into custody immediately. According to the criminal complaint cited by the station, Morgan was found sitting on a couch in an upstairs room with two empty liquor bottles next to him. That detail turned out to matter a great deal for how prosecutors ultimately charged him.
Why Trespass, Not Burglary
Prosecutors charged Morgan with criminal trespass and criminal property damage — both misdemeanors — rather than felony burglary. WISN 12 News asked the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office why the case did not rise to a felony but did not receive a response…