Green County
Felonies
● Alan Joseph Blahnik, 38, New Glarus, was charged March 15 with a Class H felony count of child abuse and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct, stemming from an incident March 12 at a residence in the 700 block of 2nd Street in New Glarus. Court records indicate Blahnik grabbed a 6-year-old boy by the ear and pulled him off a bunk bed, causing the child’s ear to turn black and purple. A school authority reported the “significant bruise” to Green County Human Services. When police went to investigate, the child’s mother yelled at and threatened law enforcement and told them to take the boy to jail for misbehaving. She was cited for her behavior. The boy told police Blahnik has spanked him, pulled his ear, smacked him with a belt and punched him in the face. Blahnik signed a $2,500 signature bond ordering no contact with the boy or the residence. He has a preliminary hearing May 16.
● Edwin Lee Jahn, 46, Clinton, Iowa, was charged March 18 with Class H felony counts of forgery, misappropriation of ID info, identity theft and fraud against a financial institution. The case stems from a forged check for $3,619.43 from a Blanchardville business, cashed at the Bank of New Glarus on Jan. 3. The owner of the business told police he had never heard of Jahn, nor had Jahn ever worked for him. An arrest warrant is issued for Jahn.
Misdemeanors
● Matthew Allen Fisher, 37, Browntown, pleaded no contest Nov. 12 to an ordinance violation of disorderly conduct, downgraded from a misdemeanor. He was fined. He owes the court $660.10. The case stems from a 911 call from Fisher’s neighbor on East South Street in Browntown in May 2017. Responding officers learned Fisher was operating a remote control car that hit the neighbor’s garage door, and when the neighbor confronted him about it, Fisher became “boisterous” and started yelling. The neighbor told police he was “shaking like a leaf” because of Fisher’s behavior. The neighbor also alleged Fisher and his friends smoked suspected drugs in front of children. Fisher countered that the neighbor had called his brother a racial slur.
● Nicole Jean Gatza, 40, Brodhead, had her deferred prosecution agreement revoked Nov. 16 on an October 2017 charge of disorderly conduct. She was assessed $250 in court fines and fees. Court records indicate her revocation was due to a theft conviction in Rock County, as well as failure to attend monitoring conferences and pay court-mandated fees.
● Joseph William Carow, 29, Oregon, pleaded guilty Nov. 20 to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and bail jumping. He was sentenced to one year on probation with an imposed and stayed 40-day jail sentence. Misdemeanor charges of operating a firearm while intoxicated and criminal damage to property were dismissed. The cases stem from an incident May 28 at his Town of Albany home on Psalms Way and a subsequent 911 call in July regarding an argument with his girlfriend. During the May incident, Carow reportedly damaged a lamp by pushing it over and held a handgun while under the influence of alcohol.
● Austin Daniel Colliers, 22, Monroe, pleaded guilty Nov. 29 to a misdemeanor charge of possessing drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to 10 days in jail and issued a fine, which he has paid in full. The case stems from a traffic stop in Juda on March 7, 2018. The deputy noted the small two-door car “drew my attention due to a louder noise coming from it” and it didn’t have working brake lights. When the deputy asked if there were any drugs or drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, “there was a brief pause from all of the occupants.” A K-9 called to the scene alerted to the presence of drugs. A search of the vehicle yielded a rubber container used to store marijuana oil, wax or dabs.
● Travis John Runke, 46, Monroe, pleaded no contest Dec. 10 to an ordinance violation of disorderly conduct, downgraded from a misdemeanor, and was fined $272.50. A misdemeanor battery charge was dismissed. The case stems from a domestic dispute July 10 at his home on West 21st Street. Court records indicate he told police his mother was upset with him for getting her large-curd cottage cheese instead of small-curd cottage cheese, and in the ensuing argument, he called her names and smacked her.
● Matthew Thomas Daly, 29, Monroe, pleaded no contest Dec. 20 to misdemeanor counts of theft and fraudulent use of a credit card, with a second count of fraud dismissed as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced to 16 months on probation with an imposed and stayed sentence of 120 days in jail. He is ordered to complete counseling or treatment for alcohol or other drug abuse. He court assessments total $886. The case stems from the theft of a Dewalt-brand sliding miter saw Aug. 21 from a Monticello residence on Walnut Road. The saw was later pawned for money to buy heroin. Court records also indicate Daly used a stolen credit card to make purchases at area gas stations.
● Daisy M. Harris, 36, Darlington, pleaded no contest Dec. 21 to an ordinance violation of issuing a worthless check, downgraded from a misdemeanor charge. She owes the court $222.50. Court records indicate she wrote a worthless check for $426.75 to Brodhead Veterinary Clinic on Aug. 7.
● Gary Todd Metz, 34, South Wayne, pleaded no contest Dec. 26 to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct, with a misdemeanor charge of battery dismissed as part of a plea deal. He was sentenced to one year on probation. The case stems from a dispute May 27 at a home on West 2nd Avenue in Brodhead. Court records indicate Metz punched out the glass of a large aquarium that contained an iguana, took a woman’s phone away and pushed her into a wall. When police took him to Monroe Clinic for medical clearance, he blew a 0.211% blood-alcohol concentration in a breathalyzer test.
● Adam Lee Knutson, 30, Orfordville, and Larry Jacob Kyser, 24, Beloit, pleaded no contest to three counts each of misdemeanor theft as a party to a crime. Knutson was sentenced Jan. 10 to 18 months on probation, with conditions that he undergo treatment for alcohol or other drug abuse. Kyser was sentenced Feb. 5 to two years on probation. Both owe restitution and fees, for a total of $2,359 each. Court records indicate Knutson and Kyser conspired on Jan. 8, 2018, to steal tools, a chainsaw, weed trimmer, circular saw and leaf blower from a shed on a residential property on Park Road, Town of Decatur. They later pawned some of the items in Beloit.