OCONTO, WI – The jury trial for Alisha M. Kocken, the woman charged with the shooting of Oconto Falls Police Officer Nicole Blaskowski, has been postponed. Expert witnesses for the defense expressed their unavailability on the originally scheduled trial dates, prompting the delay.
The trial was initially slated for September 21-27, but following a telephone conference held on September 11, Oconto County Judge Michael Judge rescheduled it for December 18-22.
Kocken previously entered a no-contest plea on August 25 to several charges, including attempted first-degree intentional homicide, resisting an officer with a dangerous weapon resulting in substantial bodily harm, battery to a law enforcement officer, and disarming a peace officer. These charges stem from an incident on August 6, 2021, when Officer Blaskowski was shot and injured during a confrontation at Kocken’s apartment complex.
Additionally, Kocken has pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease and defect. Normally, this plea would lead to a two-part jury trial, but Kocken’s no-contest pleas have directed the case straight to the second phase.
The rescheduling decision hinged on the availability of Dr. Deborah Collins, a forensic psychologist. Defense attorney John Miller Carroll explained that Collins might not be available to testify in person on the original trial dates, leading to the postponement.
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