Oconto County Circuit Court proceedings

Proceedings of Nov. 13

Trenton James Propson, 26, Manitowoc, was sentenced to two years in prison followed by two years of extended supervision, for strangulation and suffocation and misdemeanor bail jumping in connection with an incident that occurred June 16. Judge Michael T. Judge ruled that during extended supervision, Propson must maintain absolute sobriety and complete and follow through with any assessments deemed necessary by his Department of Corrections agent. The sentence is to run consecutive to any sentences from other counties.

Dennis D. Buchholz Jr., 19, Oconto Falls, was placed on three years of probation after a 3.5-year sentence was imposed and stayed for possession with intent to deliver THC and possession of THC (second and subsequent offense), in connection with an incident that occurred Feb. 21. Judge Michael T. Judge ordered Buchholz to maintain absolute sobriety and full-time employment during the probationary period. He was given credit for 267 days served in the county jail.

Tallie Marie Sheldon, 22, Menominee, Michigan, waived her right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over on a charge of second-degree recklessly endangering safety, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred June 12. Arraignment was scheduled for Dec. 10.

Proceedings of Nov. 12

A jury trial was rescheduled for March 24-25 for Jeremy J. Winter, 35, Gillett, who faces a felony charge of possession of THC (second or subsequent offense) and three related misdemeanors, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred April 6, 2019, as well as three counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of felonies, three counts of bail jumping, possession of methamphetamine (second and subsequent offense), maintaining a drug trafficking place and misdemeanor bail jumping, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Sept. 1. A final pretrial conference was set for March 15.

A Feb. 9 jury trial was scheduled for Tambra A. Hrabik, 41, Oconto, on a charge of straw purchasing of firearm, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Sept. 29, 2019. A final pretrial conference was scheduled for Jan. 27.

An April 7 jury trial was scheduled for Calla Anne Hook, 26, Peshtigo, who is charged with possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred March 27. A final pretrial conference was scheduled for March 18.

Jason Kenneth Curtis, 25, Oconto, pleaded not guilty to a charge of taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 28. A pretrial conference was scheduled for Dec. 10.

Darrin A. Niec, 20, Phelps, pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and fleeing an officer in a vehicle, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 19. A pretrial conference was scheduled for Dec. 10.

Kari A. Cooper, 44, Oconto, pleaded not guilty to 10 counts of burglary to storage units, in connection with incidents that allegedly occurred in April and May. A status conference and bail/bond motion hearing were scheduled for Dec. 18.

A Jan. 28-29 jury trial was scheduled for Shawnee Marie Chapman, 26, Lac du Flambeau, who is charged with possession of narcotic drugs and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Aug. 10. A final pretrial conference was set for Jan. 15.

Blake E. Gewont, 45, Krakow, pleaded not guilty to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (fourth offense), in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred June 13. A pretrial conference was scheduled for Jan. 14.

Peter W. Berres, 57, Milwaukee, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty to bail jumping, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Sept. 15. A pretrial conference was scheduled for Jan. 14.

Joshua L. Zilkoske, 19, Oconto Falls, pleaded not guilty to three counts of causing a child to view sexual activity, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Oct. 1. A pretrial conference was scheduled for Jan. 14.

Bond was set at $1,000 cash for David Jordan Engel, 38, Oconto Falls, after he was charged with two counts of burglary and two counts of theft, in connection with incidents that allegedly occurred Aug. 16 and 28. His initial appearance was adjourned until Dec. 10.

A bench warrant was authorized for Keith W. Vorin, 44, Green Bay, after he failed to appear for a court hearing on charges of possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Oct. 19.

A bench warrant was authorized for Brody J. Tappa, 34, Oconto, after he failed to appear on two counts of victim intimidation, child abuse recklessly causing harm, false imprisonment, substantial battery and misdemeanor battery and theft of movable property, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred July 1.

A bench warrant was authorized for Tyler Lawrence Jacobson, 28, Oconto Falls, after he failed to appear on charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (fourth offense) and misdemeanor charges of criminal damage to property, two counts of resisting or obstructing an officer and operating while revoked, in connection with incidents that allegedly occurred Sept. 19 and 20.

Proceedings of Nov. 11

Clinton Ray Samsa, 28, Peshtigo, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting or obstructing an officer, in connection with an incident that occurred May 23, 2019. A related felony charge was dismissed in a plea agreement. Judge Michael T. Judge withheld sentencing and placed Samsa on probation for 18 months, during which time he must maintain and complete an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment and treatment.

Casey Joel Benson, 30, Green Bay, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over on a charge of misappropriating identity information to obtain money, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Nov. 6, 2019. Arraignment was scheduled for Dec. 10.

A jury trial was rescheduled for April 7-8 for Dylan D. Walk, 29, Abrams, on a felony charge of strangulation and suffocation, as well as misdemeanor animal mistreatment and two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Dec. 5. A motion hearing and final pretrial conference were scheduled for March 18.

Joseph Lee Corsten, 22, Luxemburg, pleaded no contest to charges of fleeing an officer in a vehicle and misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property and causing injury with an ATV/UTV while intoxicated, in connection with an incident that occurred May 16. Judge Michael T. Judge accepted the pleas but withheld sentencing for the felony for three years subject to a deferred judgment agreement. On the misdemeanors, he placed Corsten on two years’ probation beginning with 30 days in a county jail with Huber work-release privileges. During probation, he must undergo alcohol and other drug abuse treatment and counseling and may not possess or consume alcohol or illegal drugs.

Heidi A. McFatridge, 50, Oconto, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct charges, in connection with an incident that occurred June 4. A related felony charge was dismissed but read into the record. Judge Michael T. Judge accepted a deferred judgment agreement, withholding a sentence and placing McFatridge into the Volunteers in Probation program for one year.

Proceedings of Nov. 10

After a preliminary hearing, Christopher G. Halase, 29, Baraboo, was bound over on charges of second-degree reckless homicide, homicide by negligent use of a dangerous weapon and operating a firearm with a controlled substance in connection with the Aug. 21 shooting death of his sister, Ashley Halase. Judge Michael T. Judge scheduled arraignment for Dec. 10.

Brian J. Ragen, 58, Oconto, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over on charges of homicide by operating a motor vehicle with a restricted controlled substance and operating with a restricted controlled substance (fifth offense), in connection with a vehicle-pedestrian accident that claimed the life of Chris Tyni of Oconto on Nov. 21, 2019. Arraignment was scheduled for Dec. 10.

Curt Porath, 49, Oconto, was placed on three years of probation after a six-year sentence was imposed and stayed for possession of methamphetamine production paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine, in connection with incidents that occurred Sept. 6, 2019. Judge Michael T. Judge ordered that during his probation, Porath must maintain absolute sobriety and complete all assessments, counseling and treatment deemed necessary by his agent.

Proceedings of Nov. 9

A four-day trial starting May 18 was scheduled for Randel G. Dietze, 55, Gillett, who is charged with 11 counts of stalking and 11 counts of bail jumping in connection with incidents that allegedly occurred between April and October 2018. A final pretrial conference is scheduled for April 30.

A Jan. 28 jury trial was scheduled for Cynthia M. Smith, 58, Lakewood, on a charge of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (fourth offense), in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 12. A final pretrial conference was rescheduled for Jan. 19.

Michael E. Ullmer, 21, Oconto Falls, pleaded no contest to possession of THC with intent to deliver THC, in connection with an incident that occurred Oct. 4. Judge Michael T. Judge scheduled sentencing for Jan. 25 and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.