OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) – An Oconto man was convicted on Friday for recklessly endangering safety.
51-year-old Thomas Benser allegedly fired at multiple law enforcement officers when a standoff occurred on March 10 and 11 at his home in Lena.
Benser pleaded no contest to three counts of recklessly endangering safety, while eleven other counts were dismissed, which includes five counts of attempted homicide.
He will face up to 35 years in prison.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 29 and the deal avoids a trial, which was originally scheduled to begin on October 17.
The complaint alleges that the incident stemmed from an argument that Benser got into with an ex-girlfriend on the morning of March 10. He allegedly choked her and threatened to kill her.
After receiving a voicemail from Benser the following day, the woman contacted police. On the voicemail Benser said he planned on killing himself and would not go back to jail.
Police made phone contact once they arrived and Benser fired four or five shots from his residence in the direction of officers.
No one was injured by the firing and the Brown County SWAT team was called in. Benser was eventually arrested.
