Ann Retzlaff appears in Shawano County court via video conference Aug. 24, 2023. PC: Fox 11 Online
SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A judge more than tripled the bond for former campground owner Ann Retzlaff Thursday, the day after she was arrested after being wanted since skipping a court hearing in January.
Retzlaff faces a series of criminal charges related to a May 2021 traffic stop, and additional charges for an April 20 arrest on warrants related to missed court appearances on the first charges. An additional bail jumping charge was filed after allegedly went to Michigan without permission. She has routinely objected to the court’s jurisdiction, citing her claims of being a “sovereign citizen.” She has been ordered to stand trial but no dates have been set. When she didn’t appear in court in January, Marathon County Judge Michael Moran issued a nationwide arrest warrant for her arrest.
A social media post by the Shawano Co. Sheriff’s Department Wednesday led to a tip she was in Oconto County. Deputies there followed up and arrested her without incident in the Lena area.
Retzlaff appeared by video Thursday from the Shawano County jail before Judge Moran. Other than to acknowledge she could hear the judge, Retzlaff did not comment.
Retzlaff was free after posting $16,000 in cash bail. Shawano County District Attorney Greg Parker asked for a total of $31,000 in cash bail for the three cases.
Defense attorney Michael Hughes said Retzlaff would be unable to post any cash amount, and asked for a signature bond. He also noted Retzlaff still must make an appearance on a warrant from a Sauk County case, and wouldn’t leave jail even with a signature bond.
Judge Moran said he had tried to be fair with Retzlaff, noting he had reduced the cash bond amount and gave permission for her to leave the state. Despite that, she didn’t appear in court as ordered.
“She’s not willing to avail herself of appearances in court, and while out on a cash bond, has violated, or at least has allegedly violated those conditions, and has not made any attempt whatsoever to surrender. And, therefore, I think a more substantial cash bond is required,” the judge said.
Judge Moran set cash bails of $50,000 cash, $5,000 cash, and $1,000 cash, respectively, in three of the active cases. An initial appearance still has to be scheduled for the newest bail jumping case, and no bond was set on that file.
The judge will work with the attorneys to schedule a trial date. That could be done yet Thursday, but needs to be coordinated with Shawano County to find a courtroom to use.
In the original case, police tried to pull Retzlaff over for failure to stop at a traffic light on May 15, 2021, but she did not pull over, the complaint states. Eventually, traffic stop spikes were deployed, flattening her tires, and the vehicle stopped. An officer advised her to get out of the vehicle.
“She stated she did not do anything wrong, and she was being wrongfully stopped. She stated she is a sovereign citizen and will not step out of the vehicle,” the complaint states.
A deputy tried to pry a vehicle door open when Retzlaff put the vehicle in gear to drive away. Two deputies had to move out of the way to avoid being hit by the vehicle, it states.
The vehicle was stopped a second time. A deputy “broke the driver window with his baton. The door was then opened, and Retzlaff was taken from the vehicle and escorted to the ground. She was secured in handcuffs,” the complaint states.
Retzlaff told police she was rescuing an employee from sex traffickers, which is why she didn’t stop for police, and maintained she didn’t do anything wrong.
When she was arrested on warrants for not showing up in court on the original case, she allegedly was confrontational with officers, prompting additional charges.
Two more bail jumping charges were added in December, after Retzlaff allegedly left the state without permission.
She also faces slander of title charges in Sauk County for allegedly filing improper liens against those involved in the foreclosure of the campground in what the criminal complaint calls an act of retaliation. Those charges were filed in May.
According to the criminal complaint, Retzlaff filed liens against employees of the bank which foreclosed Annie’s Campground in Gresham, an attorney, the receiver who managed the site on an interim basis, and the owner of the company which purchased the campground. The bank attorney was concerned the lien would show up on his credit reports or in other financial situations, even though he no personal business dealings with Retzlaff. The other victims made similar comments to police.
No initial appearance has been set in Sauk County.
Retzlaff was the owner of Annie’s Campground in Gresham, but it was sold at auction to satisfy mortgage and tax debts.
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