Court News

Recent proceedings from Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court

• Gerald R. Hoffman, 52, of Shawano, was sentenced to five years in prison and four years extended supervision on one count of possession of child pornography at a sentencing hearing before Judge James Habeck on Aug. 14. Hoffman had been convicted after a jury trial on July 10. The jury found him not guilty on 10 other counts.

According to the criminal complaint, Hoffman also had a cache of so-called snuff porn, videos depicting women being murdered, though none of the charges filed against him were related to those videos.

Evidence related to the snuff porn videos was excluded from the trial on pre-trial motions that it would have been unfairly prejudicial.

• Matthew A. Klein, 27, of Shawano, was found not competent at this time to stand trial on charges of felony theft and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent after an Aug. 13 competency hearing before Judge William Kussel Jr. The court found Klein could become competent at a later time after treatment. A review hearing was scheduled for Nov. 11. Klein is accused of stealing a UTV from a residence in the town of Wescott on June 17, 2018.

• Lauren A. Mendez, 29, of Shawano, was charged Aug. 12 with felony counts of possession of mathamphetamine and delivery of methamphetamine. According to a criminal complaint, Mendaz came to the attention of police after she allegedly offered meth to a neighbor. She could face a maximum 12½ years in prison and $25,000 fine if convicted of delivery of methamphetamine. She was freed on a $1,500 signature bond set by Judge James Habeck and is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 13.

• Jason R. Kelly, 46, of Readstown, entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity Aug. 14. on a felony count of burglary and a misdemeanor count of theft that allegedly occurred in the village of Aniwa on Aug. 10. He is accused of stealing guitars and other musical instruments from a trailer. He could face a maximum 12½ years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted of burglary. Judge James Habeck sat a cash bond of $500. Kelly is scheduled for a court hearing on Sept. 16.

• Gamabne L. White, 33, was charged Aug. 13 with a felony count of possession of methamphetamine after an arrest in Shawano on Aug. 12. He could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. Judge James Habeck set a $500 cash bond and $1,500 signature bond. White is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Sept. 3.

• Ronald J. Asp, 60, of Suring, was charged Aug. 12 with a felony count of possession of methamphetamine. Asp was arrested at a residence in the town of Wescott on Aug. 7 when authorities executed a search warrant at that location. He could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. Judge James Habeck ordered Asp held on a $250 cash bond. Asp is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance on Aug. 26.

• Larry D. Gretzon, 36, of Birnamwood, was charged Aug. 12 with a felony count of possession of methamphetamine. He could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. Judge James Habeck ordered Gretzon held on a $500 cash bond. Gretzon is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance on Aug. 26.

• Amber L. Roehl, 26, of Hatley, was charged Aug. 12 with a felony count of possession of methamphetamine. She could face a maximum 3½ years in prison and a $10,000 fine if convicted. Judge James Habeck ordered Roehl held on a $500 cash bond. She is scheduled for an adjourned initial appearance on Aug. 26.

• Benjamin J. Menchaca, 42, whose current address is listed as the Shawano County Jail, is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Aug. 29 on felony charges of theft, auto theft, removing a vehicle’s major parts without the owner’s consent and criminal damage to property. Menchaca is accused of taking a vehicle and vehicle parts from Witt Family Ford in the town of Maple Grove on July 10. Judge James Habeck ordered Menchaca held on a $5,000 cash bond.

• Isaac W. Boldt, 17, of Bonduel, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Aug. 12 to felony charges of attempted sexual assault of a child under the age of 16 and stalking. He is scheduled for a pre-trial conference on Dec. 17. Boldt is free on a $1,000 signature bond set by Judge James Habeck. He could face a maximum 20 years in prison and $50,000 fine if convicted of attempted sexual assault of a child.

• David J. Yaeger, 35, of Wittenberg, is charged with 31 counts of forgery and uttering a forgery. He is accused of stealing a checkbook in the town of Wittenberg and cashing forged checks between June 1 and Aug. 1 totaling $19,500, according to the criminal complaint. Yaeger could face a maximum six years in prison and $10,000 fine if convicted on each of the forgery and uttering counts if convicted. Judge William Kussel Jr. set a $5,000 signature bond at a hearing June 24. Yaeger is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Sept. 19.

• Sunday D. Dixon, 33, of Neopit, was charged Aug. 13 with a felony count of possession of methamphetamine. She is free on a $1,500 signature bond set by Judge James Habeck and is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on Sept. 3.