Ann Retzlaff (Shawano County Sheriff)
SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — More than two years after former campground owner Ann Retzlaff allegedly fled a traffic stop — triggering a series of charges and events, including the sale of her campground — a plea deal is in place to resolve most of the charges against her.
Retzlaff, 51, is the former owner of Annie’s Campground in Gresham. She returns to court Monday morning, when the plea deal is expected to be finalized. If the deal falls through, a trial is scheduled to start Tuesday morning.
Shawano County Assistant District Attorney Laura Nelson outlined the deal, which would cover multiple cases.
In the original 2021 fleeing case, Retzlaff would plea guilty or no contest to eluding an officer, and two counts of recklessly endangering safety. There would be fines of $1,900, and one year in jail. One count of obstruction would be dropped.
In charges filed related to her arrest after returning to Wisconsin after skipping court dates, Retzlaff would plea guilty or no contest to disorderly conduct and bail jumping. Two other counts would be dismissed. Jail time would be concurrent to the original case, plus fines of $350.
In another bail jumping case, she would plead guilty or no contest to one count, with another count dropped. It would include concurrent jail time and a $200 fine.
In a Menominee County case for failing to stop, she would plead guilty or no contest. There would be a $500 fine and concurrent jail time.
Marathon County Judge Michael Moran noted the one year in jail would be close to the time she has already served in the case, but in court Thursday, no one had the specific figure of how much time Retzlaff has already served.
When asked if she’s agreeable to the offer, Retzlaff said, “I would accept it, your Honor, all rights reserved, and I have the right to appeal.”
Judge Moran denied her request that she doesn’t have to submit to giving a DNA sample, noting it is required by statute.
The saga started in May 2021, when police tried to pull Retzlaff over for failure to stop at a traffic light, but she did not pull over, the criminal 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. 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. After skipping a court hearing in January 2023, a warrant for her arrest was issued. She was finally arrested in August.
At various court hearings, Retzlaff claimed she was a “sovereign citizen” and objected to the authority and jurisdiction of police and the courts.
As the criminal case proceeded, the bank foreclosed the campground. It was sold at auction in 2022 to satisfy mortgage and tax debts.
Retzlaff also faces charges on Sauk County for allegedly filing improper personal liens against officials involved professionally in the foreclosure of her campground. A March 12 trial is scheduled in that case.
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