A 55-year-old Minocqua man arrested after he allegedly pointed a gun at the head of a process server has been formally charged with second degree recklessly endangering another person’s safety and intentionally pointing a firearm at another person.
According to a criminal complaint filed late last week, a process server came to Keith G. Schultz’s Minocqua home April 18 to deliver court papers. The process server told police Schultz confirmed his identity, and appeared calm, but then reached behind his front door, pulled out a long gun and pointed it at her head.
http://liarcatchers.com/process_service.html
“You need to get off my property or I will shoot you,” Schultz said, according to the process server.
The woman said she immediately left Schultz’s home and called police.
According to the complaint, Schultz left the residence in a van before he could be apprehended. Two days later, a Minocqua Police Officer spotted Schultz’s van and followed it to the Howard Young Medical Center parking lot where Schultz was taken into custody with the assistance of the SRT (Special Response Team).
Schultz has made several appearances in Oneida County Circuit Court since his arrest. At his first appearance, on April 20, he was non-responsive, according to court records. On Monday morning, he was brought back before Judge Patrick O’Melia but again the court struggled to communicate with him.
Schultz’s only response to the judge’s questions appeared to be “hello.”
By Tuesday afternoon, public defender John Voorhees had been assigned the case but he asked for a continuance to Wednesday because he had not yet had a chance to talk to his client.
On Wednesday, Voorhees appeared with Schultz from the county jail and asked that bail, which had been set at $50,000 cash, be reduced.
Voorhees said $50,000 is a large amount of money for anyone to post and Schultz does not have the resources to cover that amount. He also noted that although the charges against Schultz are serious, there was no actual physical harm done to anyone.
“I would ask the court to consider a more modest cash bond,” he said.
Assistant Oneida County District Attorney Steve Michlig opposed any reduction of bond.
Michlig noted that two assault weapons, other loaded firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition were seized from Schultz’s residence, pursuant to a search warrant, and Schultz apparently had a type of “booby trap” set up in the house.
“There was a string attached to the doorknob with an apparatus that would cause a firearm to discharge upon entry,” Michlig said. “Obviously, this is very disconcerting.”
Michlig also noted Schultz had his van packed in such a way as to indicate he intended to leave the area, his home is being foreclosed upon and he doesn’t have a job.
“He doesn’t have any real reason to remain in the community,” Michlig said, adding that Schultz’s conduct also suggests a defiance of authority.
Voorhees responded to Michlig’s arguments by invoking the Second Amendment.
“Firearms themselves, especially when they are in his own home, are not necessarily held illegally and I haven’t heard any allegations that the ammunition and firearms were suspected to be illegal in any way. We have a right to bear arms in the United States and there are a lot of people who collect firearms including some unusual firearms and ammunition,” he said.
Judge Patrick O’Melia was unwilling to reduce bond.
“While he’s got a right to possess a gun, or 100 guns, it still causes me concern when he has one loaded behind a door and the complaint suggests it took him about two seconds to reach behind (the door), grab this gun and point it at this person’s head who was there lawfully serving these foreclosure papers,” the judge said. “This is the first time I’ve heard of not pulling the trigger as a mitigating factor.”
According to online court records, a mortgage foreclosure action was filed against Schultz on April 9 by Associated Bank.
O’Melia said he is also concerned about Schultz’s relative lack of ties to the community and his unusual behavior during court appearances.
“He’s got a van ready to go and very serious charges looming,” O’Melia said. “There really is nothing to keep him here … and finally his behavior in court was, and is, odd.”
“He appeared to be unstable at some of these hearings,” the judge said. “The $50,000, yes it’s high, but I think it’s fitting for this offense.”
A preliminary hearing in this case was set for May 2. If convicted of all charges, Schultz faces up to 10 years in prison.
