Oconto County Circuit Court proceedings

By: 
NEW Media Staff

Proceedings of Oct. 28

• Shane Babe Sahm, 42, Altoona, pleaded no contest to possession of methamphetamine, in connection with an incident that occurred July 26, 2020. Judge Michael T. Judge scheduled sentencing for Dec. 21 and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

• Cole Werner Thomas Danoff, 22, Oconto Falls, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty to possession of narcotic drugs and misdemeanor counts of possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 31, and possession of methamphetamine and felony bail jumping, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Sept. 14. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for Jan. 10.

Proceedings of Oct. 27

• David L. Reignier, 38, an Oconto Falls man currently serving time at Stanley Correctional Institution, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of battery and criminal damage to property, in connection with incidents that occurred in April 2021, as well as criminal damage to property and resisting or obstructing an officer, in connection with an incident that occurred Aug. 5, 2021. Related felony counts were dismissed but read into the record as part of a plea agreement. Judge sentenced Reignier to a total of nine months in the Oconto County Jail after his current sentence is completed.

• Brandon L. Selissen, 42, Oconto, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges of bail jumping, battery and disorderly conduct, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred March 25. The bail jumping charge was amended from a felony in a plea agreement. JuJudge withheld sentencing and placed him on two years of probation beginning with 60 days in jail starting no later than 3 p.m. Nov. 11.

• Aliyaha Marie Skarban, 19, Oconto, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of possession of illegally obtained prescription drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia, in connection with an incident that occurred July 5. One charge was amended from a felony count in a plea agreement. Judge placed her on two years of probation.

• After a preliminary hearing, Travis R. Bolssen, 47, an inmate at Stanley Correctional Institution, was bound over on a charge of repeated sexual assault of the same child in connection with incidents that allegedly occurred in 2020. Arraignment was scheduled for Nov. 16.

• After a preliminary hearing, Matthew J. Slye, 32, Oconto, was bound over on two counts of possession of narcotic drugs, possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 24. Arraignment was scheduled for Nov. 17.

Slye is also awaiting trial on charges of bail jumping and possession of methamphetamine, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Aug. 18, and possession of methamphetamine with misdemeanor counts of carrying a concealed weapon and possession of methamphetamine, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 10.

• Nonah A. Gaertig, 17, Green Bay, pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent, in connection with an incident that occurred July 16. The charge was amended from a felony. Judge Jay N. Conley imposed and stayed a nine-month jail sentence, then placed Gaertig on a year of probation with several conditions. Her record may be expunged if she successfully completes probation.

Proceedings of Oct. 26

• Dana G. Galske, 53, Green Bay, pleaded no contest to possession of methamphetamine, in connection with an incident that occurred Dec. 24, 2021, and felony bail jumping, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred March 29. Judge Michael T. Judge scheduled sentencing for Dec. 21 and ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

• Rafael Elroy Garay, 37, Pound, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over on two counts of felony bail jumping in connection with an incident that occurred Jan. 3. Charges in two other cases were dismissed but read into the record in a plea agreement. Judge scheduled sentencing for Dec. 21 and ordered a pre-sentence investigation; the sentencing was later rescheduled for Jan. 13.

Proceedings of Oct. 25

• Nathan R. Kuchenbecker, 29, Oconto, was sentenced to 18 months in prison, followed by five months of extended supervision, for possession of methamphetamine, in connection with an incident that occurred June 21. Judge Jay N. Conley gave Kuchenbecker credit for 158 days already served and ruled that after 10 months he is eligible for the Substance Abuse Program, which can lead to early release upon successful completion.

Conditions of extended supervision include that he maintain absolute sobriety, undergo an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment and complete any programs and counseling deemed appropriate by his corrections agent.

• Conley took under advisement a deferred judgment agreement for Lakisha M. Nash, 44, Hobart, but declined to accept it immediately. Nash is charged with second-degree reckless endangering safety and fleeing an officer, and she was ticketed for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (first offense), in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Sept. 11, 2021. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Nov. 18.

• A Nov. 8-9 jury trial was canceled because the state did not have a prosecutor available to try the case of Michael Nicholas Hulchiy, 51, Suring, on charges of first-degree sexual assault and four counts of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of an out-of-state felony, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Feb. 23, 2021. Conley noted that Hannah Schuchart has been appointed as the new Oconto County district attorney, starting Oct. 31, and scheduled a status conference for Dec. 15.

• A Nov. 8 jury trial also was canceled for Rodney L. Baumgarten, 41, Gillett, on charges of possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony and two counts of illegal shining, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Nov. 25. A status conference was scheduled for Dec. 15.

• George K. Watruba, 61, Marinette, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was bound over on charges of possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Sept. 6. Arraignment was scheduled for Dec. 15.

• Bond was set at $5,000 cash for Ethan Paul Miller, 19, Oconto Falls, after he was charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred Sept. 14. His initial appearance was adjourned until Nov. 17.

Proceedings of Oct. 24

• After a preliminary hearing, a 39-year-old Sobieski man was bound over on charges of incest with a child by a stepparent and misdemeanor fourth-degree sexual assault, in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred May 14. A pre-trial conference was scheduled for Dec. 15.