Ann Retzlaff enters a Shawano County courtroom Jan. 22, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — More than two years after former campground owner Ann Retzlaff fled a traffic stop — triggering a series of charges and events, including the sale of her campground — a plea deal resolved most of the criminal charges against her. She agreed to a plea “under extreme duress” Monday before she was sentenced to a year in jail and fines totaling $2,950.
Retzlaff, 54, is the former owner of Annie’s Campground in Gresham. 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.
Monday’s court action resolved cases in Shawano and Menominee counties. Retzlaff also faces charges in 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.
Retzlaff, who is in custody, said her father is ill and she wanted to resolve the cases, at least in part, to take care of him.
“I don’t want to be in here anymore. And I know if I do a trial by jury, as is the Constitutional right for me to have that, if could be delayed for another two and a half years. I’ve already waited almost three full years right now for justice,” she said.
When Marathon County Judge Michael Moran reviewed the rights she was giving by entering the no contest pleas, Retzlaff — who previously claimed she was a “sovereign citizen” and objected to the authority and jurisdiction of police and the courts — commented on her attitude towards the deal.
“I do understand those rights, your honor. They are our inherent rights. And it is under extreme duress I wish for my freedom so I can get my life back,” she said.
Shawano County District Attorney Greg Parker urged the judge to accept the terms of the plea deal. He called the May 2021 traffic stop and 32-minute chase the most serious of the charges.
Defense attorney Michael Hughes asked for leniency on the fines, and 11 months in jail instead of a year. Hughes reiterated Retzlaff’s previous statements that she was trying to assist an employee who she believed was in danger. After learning that person was safe, Retzlaff was headed home when things “went terribly sideways” with the traffic stop, he said.
Before the sentence was issued, Retzlaff noted her military service and lack of criminal record before also describing her motivations to help her employee that day. She said she accepts responsibility for her actions that day.
Judge Moran said he was pleased with that statement. The case is not about any of her political beliefs, he said, but her actions overstepped her bounds onto the responsibilities of law enforcement.
“Those who are charged with keeping us safe deserve our respect. And I think that you lapsed into a period of time where there was that respect missing. And I’m very, very pleased to hear you accept responsibility,” he said.
Four different cases were resolved Monday:
- In the original 2021 fleeing case, Retzlaff pleaded no contest to eluding an officer, and two counts of recklessly endangering safety. One count of obstruction was dropped. Retzlaff was sentenced to one year in jail. She was fined $1,900.
- In charges filed related to her arrest after returning to Wisconsin after skipping court dates, Retzlaff pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct and bail jumping. Two other counts were dismissed. Jail time was concurrent to the original case. She was fined $350.
- In another bail jumping case, she pleaded no contest to one count, with another count dropped. Jail time was again concurrent, and she was fined $200.
- In a charge for failing to stop, she pleaded no contest. She was fined $500 fine and sentenced to concurrent jail time.
Retzlaff was given credit for the 262 days she has already served, leaving 103 days of a sentence to serve. Judge Moran noted that with good time credit, she will be released sooner than that.
Retzlaff must also provide a DNA sample, and her driver’s license was suspended for six months.
If the case had not been resolved, a trial was scheduled to start Tuesday.
As the criminal case proceeded, the bank foreclosed the campground. It was sold at auction in 2022 to satisfy mortgage and tax debts.
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