Man accused of pointing gun at women, child

OCONTO — Bond was set at $25,000 cash for a Crivitz area man charged with pointing a gun at two women and a toddler during an argument Feb. 16 in Lena.

Steven M. Schmitz, 66, was charged Feb. 17 in Oconto County Circuit Court with three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety in connection with the incident, which occurred as one of the women helped the other move out of a residence in Lena.

A third woman came home from work as they were packing and accused them of stealing some of her belongings, according to the criminal complaint. At that point, Schmitz arrived and joined the argument, reportedly yelling profanities at the women.

During the altercation, Schmitz pointed a gun in each woman’s face and also pointed the weapon at one woman’s 2-year-old son, the complaint said.

District Attorney Edward Daniel Burke asked that bail be set at $10,000 cash, but Judge Jay N. Conley, saying the allegations were frightening, ordered the higher bond.

Schmitz’s initial court appearance was adjourned until March 12.