Tiffany Powell (PC: Fox 11 Online)
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A woman who held her son at gunpoint shortly before he was killed by another man in a dispute about the theft of exotic pets was convicted Friday for her role in her son’s death.
Tiffany Powell, 37, pleaded no contest to first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The most serious count — being party to first-degree intentional homicide — was dropped.
She is due to be sentenced Feb. 6.
The charges stem from the October 2020 shooting death of Powell’s son, Ryelee Manete-Powell.
William Zelenski, 46, allegedly shot and killed Manente-Powell, 18, who Zelenski believed had stolen his multiple exotic animals, worth more than $27,000, a few days before.
Zelenski and Powell allegedly confronted Manente-Powell on a Waupaca street.
According to the criminal complaint, a doorbell camera captured most of the altercation. At one point, the video shows Zelenski handing the gun to Powell, who pointed the gun at Manente-Powell. Eventually she gave the gun back to Zelenski, but the complaint doesn’t say anything about the doorbell video showing actual shots being fired.
After the shooting, Zelenski called 911, saying Manente-Powell attacked him, and then Zelenski shot him.
According to the criminal complaint, the two stole multiple animals, including a crocodile, bearded lizard, snakes, and other items.
No trial date has been set for Zelenski. He returns to court Feb. 22 for a status conference. Zelenski has been in jail for more than two years awaiting trial, unable to post the $1 million cash bond.
Ashton Tody was convicted of theft for assisting Manente-Powell in the burglary. He will be sentenced Jan. 23.
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