Trial and plea hearing scheduled for 2 of 4 men accused of illegal bear hunting in northern Dunn County
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — A trial in April and a plea hearing in December have been scheduled for two of the four men accused of illegal bear hunting in northern Dunn County.
Hunter Strenke, age 22, of Clayton, who is charged with one misdemeanor count of killing a bear without a license, was scheduled for a hearing before Judge James Peterson September 27.
According to online court records, Strenke was not in court although his attorney, Kirk Everson appeared by video for Strenke.
Strenke’s attorney told the court that an offer had been extended by the Dunn County district attorney’s office but that there was no plea agreement.
Prosecuting Attorney Lucas D. Arras asked the court to schedule a two-day jury trial.
Judge Peterson scheduled a four-day trial in April for Strenke.
Adam Millermon, age 37, of Glenwood City, is charged with one misdemeanor count of illegal bear hunting as a repeat offender and as a party to a crime.
Millermon also was scheduled for a hearing before Judge Peterson September 27.
According to online court records, Millermon also was not in court but his attorney, David Raihle, appeared for Millermon by video.
Raihle told the court there was a resolution to the case but that he had not yet received the offer in writing.
A plea hearing is scheduled for Millermon December 16 in Dunn County Circuit Court.
Brandon Guthrie, age 32, of Ridgeland, and Cody Shafer age 27, of Ridgeland are charged with resisting a conservation warden and illegal bear hunting as a party to a crime.
Guthrie and Shafer are scheduled for another court appearance November 8.
According to the criminal complaint, a Dunn County deputy notified state Department of Natural Resources Conservation Warden J.J. Redemann on September 16, 2021, of a bear hunting incident that occurred on property along 1420th Avenue in the Town of Sheridan.
A landowner who owns 38 acres told the warden that on September 10 multiple bear hunters had trespassed on his property and other properties in the area.
The property owner said he believed the bear had been killed near a daycare.
Redemann spoke to a daycare owner, who operates a daycare out of her residence.
The daycare owner said on September 10, she could hear hounds coming through the woods behind her house around 10:30 a.m., so she brought the daycare children who were playing outside into the house, according to the complaint.
The daycare owner said she had not given anyone from the group permission to shoot on her property.
