DARLINGTON - After a four-day trial, a jury has found a Gratiot man guilty of pointing a firearm at two conservation wardens.
Robert J. Stietz, 65, was found guilty by the jury Saturday, March 15, for a Class H felony charge of pointing a revolver at the wardens and one misdemeanor count of resisting the wardens.
Court records indicate two wardens came across Stietz in an outdoor area in the 7000 block of Wisconsin 81 in the Town of Lamont at about sunset on the closing day of deer hunting season Nov. 25, 2012. Stietz told the wardens he wasn't hunting but looking for trespassers. During the conversation, Stietz hit one of the wardens in the stomach with the stock of his rifle and then aimed a revolver at the wardens. Stietz kept the wardens and deputies called to the scene in a one-hour standoff before one of the deputies convinced Stietz to put down the revolver.
If sentenced for the maximum penalty, Stietz could face up to six years and nine months in prison or up to $20,000 in fines or both.
According to Wisconsin's online circuit court access, a pre-sentence investigation was ordered Monday, March 17, but no date for sentencing has been set.
Robert J. Stietz, 65, was found guilty by the jury Saturday, March 15, for a Class H felony charge of pointing a revolver at the wardens and one misdemeanor count of resisting the wardens.
Court records indicate two wardens came across Stietz in an outdoor area in the 7000 block of Wisconsin 81 in the Town of Lamont at about sunset on the closing day of deer hunting season Nov. 25, 2012. Stietz told the wardens he wasn't hunting but looking for trespassers. During the conversation, Stietz hit one of the wardens in the stomach with the stock of his rifle and then aimed a revolver at the wardens. Stietz kept the wardens and deputies called to the scene in a one-hour standoff before one of the deputies convinced Stietz to put down the revolver.
If sentenced for the maximum penalty, Stietz could face up to six years and nine months in prison or up to $20,000 in fines or both.
According to Wisconsin's online circuit court access, a pre-sentence investigation was ordered Monday, March 17, but no date for sentencing has been set.