Stephen Preisler, a.k.a. "Uncle Fester" appears in Brown County court, Sept. 12, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Stephen Preisler’s trial next week on drug manufacture and delivery charges was postponed to allow for more testing of evidence in the case.
Preisler, 67, gained renown under the name “Uncle Fester” for his books on how to make ricin, methamphetamine and other drugs. In July 2023, he was charged with multiple drug manufacturing and delivery counts after items were seized from his Baird Street home. Since then, additional charges, including drug possession and bail jumping, have been added. He is scheduled to stand trial March 11.
However, attorney Eric Maciolek filed a motion Monday, asking for a delay.
“The defense intends to submit various exhibits in the possession of the state to a private laboratory, NMS Labs for chemical testing. The results of the testing of these exhibits will be relevant to Count 8 of the information and are necessary to support the defense of Mr. Preisler at trial,” he wrote. “Counsel has conferred with Deputy District Attorney Wendy Lemkuil concerning the purpose of the request for an adjournment. The State has no objection to the request.”
The motion was granted at a hearing Monday afternoon. A new trial date of Oct. 7 was scheduled.
Preisler was previously convicted of bail jumping counts associated with the case. He was placed on probation and ordered to spend six months in jail. One manufacture of amphetamine count was dismissed, as two set of lab test results showed the material was not an illegal substance.
The first criminal complaint alleged the amount of methamphetamines allegedly found in his home could last the average user anywhere from 328 days to over 3,000 days. Preisler has repeatedly disputed that the items seized were illegal substances. Additional drug and bail jumping charges were later added.
Preisler also faces a civil suit filed by the city of Green Bay, seeking to have his Baird Street home declared a public nuisance in order to be sold or razed. No hearings are currently scheduled in that case.
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