Story Archive

Witch Hunt

A prison chaplain in Wisconsin was the subject of a literal witch hunt when two state politicians tried to get her fired right after she was hired in 2001 — because the Rev. Jamyi Witch — her real name — is a pagan (see “Religious Tolerance, American Style” in Volume 8). The action, by Rep. Scott Walker, then the chair of the Assembly Committee on Corrections and Courts, and Rep. Michael Huebsch of (yes!) West Salem, was so intense that Witch reported getting death threats. The effort failed on freedom of religion grounds. But now, Witch has pleaded not guilty to supposedly setting up a fake hostage situation in her office at Oshkosh Correctional Institution. During the hostage crisis, she slipped the inmate drugs and, once he was asleep, opened the door for guards. Her alleged motive: to get herself and the prisoner transferred to a different prison. If convicted, Witch, now 52, faces up to 58-1/2 years in prison. (RC/Oshkosh Northwestern) ...Mastermind of a plot, or victim of a plot? You be the judge.