Shawano man charged with meth, fentanyl, THC

A Shawano man was charged Dec. 13 with multiple drug and bail jumping counts following a Nov. 27 police chase in the Town of Washington.

Shawn A. Bork, 38, was charged with one count of possession of amphetamine/methamphetamine with intent (3-10 grams), one count of possession of fentanyl with intent (less than or equal to 10 grams), one count of operating a vehicle to flee/elude an officer, 11 counts of bail jumping, one misdemeanor count of possession of THC, two misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and two misdemeanor counts of bail jumping.

If convicted, Bork faces fines of up to $50,000 and 15 years in prison for each felony count of possession, $10,000 in fines and 3½ years in prison for attempting to flee/elude an officer, $10,000 in fines and six years in prison for each count of bail jumping, $1,000 in fines and six months in prison for the misdemeanor count of possession of THC, $500 in fines and 30 days in prison for each misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia and $10,000 in fines and nine months in prison for each misdemeanor count of bail jumping.

At Bork’s Dec. 19 preliminary hearing, Shawano-Menominee Circuit Court Judge Katherine Sloma informed the court that Bork did not qualify for a public defender at his initial appearance but may be eligible now.

“I haven’t been able to contact (the public defenders office),” said Bork.

Shawano County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Dylan Young was called to the stand by District Attorney Greg Parker and gave his run down on what happened when Bork was arrested.

“I was parked on Lake Drive, near County Road R,” said Young. “I observed a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign near that intersection. I activated my emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop and the vehicle pulled over just south of that location. Before I was able to exit my vehicle, the vehicle fled from the traffic stop.”

Young explained that he advised dispatch that he could not read the license plate of the vehicle and that he was in a pursuit. He added that the pursuit continued on state Highway 22 into Oconto County at approximately 100 miles per hour.

According to Young, the vehicle was found in Oconto County the next day and items, including a payroll statement and cellphone belonging to Bork, were found in and around the vehicle.

“Several days later, I contacted probation/parole and advised that Shawn Bork was my suspect in this case,” said Young, noting that Bork’s location could be tracked through an ankle monitor. “I learned that on Nov. 27 they were able to track his exact location during my stop, which showed him in the area where we observed the traffic violation occur, showed him stop for a brief period, and then the ankle monitor tracked him at speeds of over 90 miles per hour on state Highway 22.”

After receiving Bork’s location, Young said that he and a few more deputies went there and the homeowner invited the deputies inside.

“She escorted me to a front bedroom, where she told me he was,” said Young. “We found multiple glass pipes that are used for smoking methamphetamine or fentanyl and we found fentanyl and methamphetamine product, which tested positive.”

Following Parker’s question, Bork asked Young multiple times if he had permission to enter the house.

“She said that she told you no,” said Bork. “I talked to her after and she said that you did not have a warrant.”

Sloma stopped Bork, saying that he was starting to testify, as opposed to questioning Young. She added that the homeowner was not in the courtroom and barred Bork from introducing the homeowner’s statements.

With no other witnesses, the court found probable cause and bound the matter over for trial. She also ordered Bork to get back into contact with the public defender’s office.

According to the criminal complaint, a Shawano County sheriff’s deputy was performing a routine traffic stop on state Highway 22 in the Town of Washington when the driver sped away toward Oconto County. The driver was reportedly reaching speeds of up to 100 mph before slowing down to 75 mph through Pulcifer, and then increasing back to 100 mph. During the chase, the operator of the vehicle allegedly threw items out of the window.

An Oconto County sheriff’s deputy was parked on Zastrow Road, just north of Pulcifer, and had laid down spike strips that were hit by the fleeing car, which continued to drive off. The pursuing officer also hit the strips and was forced to stop the pursuit.

Later, the fleeing vehicle was reportedly located behind a residence on state Highway 22 in Oconto County. The Shawano County Sheriff’s Department was notified, and Bork was identified as a suspect in the chase.

The complaint says that a black drawstring bag was found just south of Pulcifer. In the bag, law enforcement allegedly found a grey tool box and tools, a blue battery pack, various shattered lighters, a probation and parole card, a blue glass pipe with white residue and a phone. The white residue reportedly tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl.

After searching a residence on Lake Drive in Shawano where Bork was reportedly located, law enforcement officials found, among other objects, a half-filled vial of a white, crystal substance that reportedly tested positive for methamphetamine and fentanyl. Several glass smoking devices along with three bags of a leafy, green substance were found as well and tested positive for marijuana, according to the criminal complaint.

Sloma remains in custody in lieu of a cash bond of $10,000, and an arraignment was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Jan. 31.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com