Stephen Preisler consults with his attorney during an Oct. 7, 2025 hearing in Brown County court. PC: Fox 11 Online
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Although a plea deal is in the works for his original drug case, Stephen Preisler – the author known as Uncle Fester – is facing a sentencing hearing Jan. 9 after having his probation revoked on a bail jumping case.
Preisler, 67, who 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 in Brown County 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.
In January, Preisler was convicted of two bail jumping charges for using drugs, which he cited as coping with pain issues. Judge John Zakowski placed him on probation for 18 months, ordered six months in jail, plus regular drug tests for the bail jumping violations.
Since then, the state says Preisler again used methamphetamines and possessed drug paraphernalia. After a Nov. 3 hearing before an administrative law judge, Preisler’s probation was revoked with a recommendation to impose the stayed jail time, court records show.
“Under the circumstances, I find that alternatives to revocation are inappropriate. While Mr. Preisler requests another opportunity to remain on supervision, his actions clearly reflect that he is unserious about meaningfully engaging in supervision. Mr. Preisler deliberately chose to reject supervision as evidenced by his failure to follow the directives of the Department and engage in the same type of conduct which resulted in him being placed on probation. It is evident that Mr. Preisler has refused to take responsibility for his actions as noted in his statement to the Department where he blames others for his continued drug use. (Ex. at p. 27). Mr. Preisler has wasted the considerable opportunity to remain in the community by continuing to involve himself with drug use and violating his conditions of bond. Not revoking Mr. Preisler would fail to protect the public from his continued criminal conduct. Furthermore, it is telling that, despite Mr. Preisler being on a heightened level of monitoring (by being on a SCRAM pretrial monitoring bracelet), (Id. at p. 11), he is still willing to continue to engage in drug use. The only remaining option is to confine Mr. Preisler and allow him to seek treatment in a confined setting,” wrote Administrative Law Judge Katherine Romanowich.
Preisler was already due back in court Jan. 9 to possible finalize a plea on the pending cases.
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.
Preisler also faces a civil suit filed by the city of Green Bay, seeking to have his home declared a public nuisance in order to be sold or razed. No hearings are currently scheduled in that case. The city has offered tours to prospective buyers but the city hasn’t said if any deal has been reached.
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