Drunk prison guard allegedly used anti-LGBTQ+ slur before tossing woman into fire pit

A former prison guard in Green Bay, Wisconsin has been convicted for two charges connected to strangling a woman and throwing her into an active fire pit. He allegedly used an anti-LGBTQ+ slur against the woman, though the local prosecutor didn’t pursue hate crime charges against him.

In the late night hours of July 2, 2021, now-32-year-old Shane Nolan got “blackout drunk” while hanging out at a bar with his friend. Too drunk to drive, Nolan and Escoto accepted a ride to the home of the now-32-year-old woman Dessiray Koss. Nolan and his friend rode with Koss and her sister.

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At Koss’s home, Nolan and Koss reportedly gathered firewood for a burn pit. Later on in the night, Koss said that Nolan had become “cold and menacing,” called her anti-LGBTQ+ slur, and then threw her in the fire pit. Nolan said he had been “black out drunk” but regained consciousness at some point when he found himself being beaten up by Koss and her sister.

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Nolan told the court that he didn’t remember many details of the evening until he eventually regained consciousness while being beaten up by Koss and her sister. He said he wasn’t sure if his friend or someone else started the fight.

When Koss arose from the fire, Nolan allegedly began strangling her. “She was turning really purple at that point and nothing was coming out of her mouth,” Koss’s sister testified. Nolan claimed to be acting in self-defense.

The altercation left Koss with third-degree burns to her upper right arm as well as other burns and injuries to her left wrist and chin, the Green Bay Press Gazette reported. The injuries caused permanent scarring and nerve pain in her arm and also caused Koss to require plastic surgery and physical therapy, Koss testified.

Nolan denied using an anti-LGBTQ+ slur before the fight, saying that he had been raised with a “core value” never to use such language — it’s unclear if Koss identifies as LGBTQ+. Koss said he worked on friendly terms with gay and trans colleagues while serving as a prison guard at Green Bay Correctional Institution.

Nolan admitted to lying about his injuries, telling his employer and girlfriend the next day that they occurred from falling off his four-wheeler vehicle. Under cross-examination during the trial, Koss’s attorney asked Nolan, “You’re willing to lie to prevent something bad from happening to you?” He said he was afraid of losing his job. The attorney asked if he was afraid of being found guilty.

A jury deliberated for one hour before finding Nolan guilty of felony substantial battery and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Combined, the charges can result in up to 3.75 years in jail and up to $11,000 in fines. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 7.

Brown County District Attorney David Lasee said that he didn’t pursue hate crime charges for fear that he wouldn’t be able to win a conviction.