Article: KLEIST SENT TO WAUPUN Judge rejects builder's leniency plea

A $1,500 check, allegations that employees embezzled from him and complaints that his seven-year prison sentence was "unduly harsh" could not keep fallen home improvement baron Peter Kleist from taking a trip to Waupun Friday.

Three months and two temporary stays after Kleist was sentenced to the seven-year term for stealing between $530,000 and $700,000 from 44 homeowners to prop up his failing business, Circuit Judge Jeffrey A. Wagner rejected Kleist's motion to have his sentence reduced.

Wagner Friday ordered that Kleist be immediately sent to prison. "The buck stops here with me, just like the buck stopped with you for your business," Wagner told Kleist.

The order came after ...

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