Woman who killed Sussex family dog sentenced in new case after pleading no contest to charges of burglary, possession of firearm

By: Ellie Nakamoto-White

Posted: Apr 9, 2026 2:26 PM CDT

NOW: Woman who killed Sussex family dog sentenced in new case after pleading no contest to charges of burglary, possession of firearm

WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- The Sussex woman who served time for killing another family's dog during a babysitting gig back in 2024 was sentenced on Thursday for another case at the Waukesha County courthouse.

Kielee Sonnemann, 20, pled no contest to charges of burglary and possession of a firearm by a felon.

Kielee Sonnemann

She was charged with breaking into a home on Silver Spring Dr. last September, right after she had gotten out of her nine-month jail sentence for the animal death, and during her probation period.

Officials said she, along with Samuel Stryker and other people, found multiple gun safes with weapons and stole around a dozen before they later got into Sonnemann's car and drove to a park to fire them.

The owner of the home told detectives he owns the property but hadn't lived there since 2022.

Judge David Maas sentenced Sonnemann to three years of initial confinement and three years

Samuel Stryker

of extended supervision.

"There are not many crimes that involve a personal violation the way that a home invasion does," the judge said. "You made the decision to go into this house, you made this decision to rifle through this persons belongings to find things to take, you made the decision to join them as they took firearms from the residence, you made the decision to go back to one of their houses the next day and see all the guns laid out, and you made the decision to participate in going to the park and trying to fire the guns."

Before the judge's decision, Sonnemann spoke in court and apologized.

"I did not realize that my actions affected more than just myself... I also want to apologize to my family. I was not raised to act out. I was always told to think before I do something, and I did not think this time," Sonnemann said. "It was never my intention to cause such a big problem, but I did, and I sit and think about it every day."

While Sonnemann's case wrapped up Thursday, Stryker is scheduled to have his sentencing next month on May 20.