The trial for Wittenberg resident Mindy S. Leeder is still on, but there are indications that a settlement could be closer to reality.
During a hearing Nov. 26, Joseph Kaupie, Leeder’s attorney, said that he and Shawano-Menominee County District Attorney Greg Parker are continuing to negotiate and working toward a resolution in the case that would call off the jury trial planned for January.
In spite of the hope for a resolution, Kaupie and Parker submitted motions and jury instructions to be considered. Circuit Court Judge William Kussel warned both sides that any changes in the case need to occur no later than two days before the trial begins.
Another pre-trial hearing was scheduled for 1:15 p.m. Dec. 20 in Branch II of the Shawano County Courthouse.
Leeder is currently charged with one count of first-degree recklessly endangering safety and one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
According to the criminal complaint, deputies were dispatched May 9, 2023, to Wittenberg for a report of a weapons offense. The caller claimed a woman was at Pond Park and pointing a firearm at multiple children. When arriving on scene, a deputy was shown a video of Leeder as she allegedly pulled a gun from her waistband and pointed it at one of the children, who was recording the video.
The deputies were informed of the house that Leeder entered. When officers pulled up to the residence, Leeder walked out of the house with her hands in the air, complying with law enforcement officials’ orders. The gun that Leeder had allegedly pointed at the children was found inside the residence.
The children who were at the park at the time told law enforcement that Leeder came to the park to yell at them because they were allegedly bullying her children. The children said that they were not bullying. They stated that Leeder was pointing the gun at them and waving it around in the air.
The children reportedly told Leeder that they were going to call the police. From there, the criminal complaint states that Leeder put the gun in her pocket and went to the Front Street residence, where law enforcement arrested her.
In an interview with Leeder, deputies claim she stated that she could hear her daughter yelling when the daughter was at Pond Park. Upon hearing the yelling, Leeder stated that she wanted to walk over to the park to see what was going on. She also stated that it is common for her to take a concealed firearm with her when leaving the residence, as she has a valid concealed carry permit. She claimed the firearm was loaded.
Leeder told deputies that when she was leaving her residence, her daughter came home and reported the bullying, but did not specify what the bullying was, according to the criminal complaint. Leeder told law enforcement that her children have experienced bullying at Pond Park in the past.
When addressing the group of children at Pond Park, Leeder said that the children became argumentative and began to form a semi-circle around her, according to the complaint. She allegedly told the children that she had a firearm and, when asked if it was real, she allegedly pulled the gun out of her pocket.
Leeder reportedly pointed the gun in the air without putting her finger on the trigger, according to the complaint, saying that she did not point the gun at any of the children and was being situationally aware of her surroundings. She said that the children got scared and that she put the gun back into her pocket after holding it in the air.
When questioned by law enforcement whether presenting the firearm was necessary, Leeder reportedly said: “It probably wasn’t; I was probably just nervous and scared. I don’t like confrontation, to be honest.”
lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com
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