Fire Department (File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley said in a letter dated December 5, 2023 that he will not be pursuing charges against the newly-retired Twin Lakes Fire Chief Stan Claus Jr or the fire department. Graveley also said that he won’t even pursue action to force the Fire Department to turn over the records that they lied about not having.
A secret meeting was held on Thursday, March 9, 2023, by the Twin Lakes Fire Department Board of Trustees to decide how to proceed with allegations of sexual harassment against Chief Clause. Kenosha County Eye was eager to attend this meeting, but no one would tell us where and when it was. It wasn’t posted at the library, and countless Village officials ignored our request for the details. We showed up at the Fire Department at 236 E. Main St around 5pm and we were denied access and told the meeting was “closed to the public.”
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KCE has been been made aware of these allegations by at least two whistleblowers at the department. For the last year, we have been attempting to learn from Village President Howard Skinner and Village Administrator Laura Roesslein what the status was of these allegations. (Skinner usually wears Nascar hats to Village meetings.) We submitted public records requests and they were ignored. It wasn’t until this March that Administrator Roesslein admitted that there was an “internal employee investigation” being conducted and she couldn’t comment. Village President Howards Skinner has never responded to an email from Kenosha County Eye. In March we called Clause, emailed and texted him. He did not return any of the communications. We emailed the Twin Lakes Police department to see if there was any criminal investigation. Chief Adam Grosz told us that they have not received any criminal complaints but if they do, they will turn it over to an outside agency.
We emailed the Village Clerk, Sabrina Waswo, to learn the place and time of the March 9th meeting. She told us “The Village does not have any meetings tonight.” We checked with our whistleblower again to confirm and were told that the meeting was indeed tonight. We again reached out to Waswo and she then later came clean, saying “The Twin Lakes Fire Rescue is a separate entity from the Village. I don’t know their meeting schedule.” Rosselein then also finally admitted that there was a meeting tonight, but refused tell us the time or place.
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Hannah Felipez, a firefighter with the Twin Lakes Fire Department, made at least one allegation of sexual harassment against Clause. KCE is told that Clause solicited Felipez to have a threesome with himself, his step-daughter, and Felipez. In KCE’s initial report, we didn’t name Felipez, but she later came forward to KCE to tell her story. She told us that the sexual harassment that the Chief committed against her is “nobody’s business” – we explained to her that misconduct of public officials are the public’s business. She disagreed with us, saying that she was made an offer by the Chief that lead her to drop her complaint. “I’m satisfied, why do you have to write about it?” she told KCE at Country Thunder.
On March 17, 2023, KCE made a public records request to the Fire Department for all sexual harassment complaints against Chief Clause. 28 minutes later we received a response from Clause indicating that there were no complaints. He lied. On March 20, 2023, KCE sent certified letters to each and every member of the Twin Lakes Fire Department Board demanding the sexual assault complaints against the Chief.
Buster Amore Glenn Tietz, Jr Glenn Tietz, Sr
Al Stolp Chip Walmsley Ron Redlin
None of the Trustees responded. We did make contact with Buster Amore, who initially lied and said he never got our letter, and later admitted that he received it but told KCE to “fuck off.” They all violated the Wisconsin Public Records Statute 19.31. In Wisconsin, if you’ve ever received a public records response, you have probably seen a disclaimer at the bottom its required by law and reads:
“The Twin Lakes Fire Department has fully responded to your public records request. However, please be advised that in the event you consider the response to be a denial of your request, your request is subject to review by mandamus under Wis. Stat. § 19.37(1), or upon application to the attorney general or a district attorney. See Wis. Stat. § 19.35 (4)(b).”
This tells people how they can appeal illegal denials or other violations. As many know, KCE has won 17 victories in regards to legal disputes about public records.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
To be blunt, we know an awful lot about the law, and haven’t lost. I’ve bear Michael Graveley in court TWICE when he illegally denied requests. I did these cases by myself, only bringing in lawyer towards the end so I knew I would get compensated. I did. The really hurt Mike Graveley’s ego. He lost two court cases to a college drop-out. He’s been a lawyer for decades. He is morally bankrupt and has no integrity. Notwithstanding, on June 8, 2023, we filed a complaint with Mike Graveley (D)’s office. You can read the complaint below.
On December 5, 2023, Graveley sent KCE a letter saying that his office spoke to the Fire Department who quickly lawyered up and hired a high-priced law firm called vonBriesen. vonBriesen didn’t deny the existence of the sexual assault complaints and agued that it got some money from patients who get service from the ambulances, and this not all of their revenue is from the government. This is a nonsensical argument and Graveley admits as much. Every Fire Department in the State of Wisconsin charges patient when they get an ambulance ride to the hospital, but they are all still governmental authorities and this subject to public records requests. In Graveley’s letter, he indicated that he will not be pursuing the illegal denial or attempt to obtain the illegally withheld records saying “You have the same authority as the District Authority’s office under section 19.37 of the Wisconsin Statutes to ask a court to compel the release of the records you are requesting.” Graveley know this is a lie. KCE cannot charge the Village with a crime, like Graveley’s office can. Because of a recent Supreme Court ruling, I can’t get attorneys fees if I win, so me going to court isn’t worth it at this time.
So with Clause now retired, and the complaints likely destroyed, the Village taxpayers will never know just what Clause was alleged to have done to at least one woman. Stanley is also employed in Twin Lakes as the Public Works Director.
22 Responses
Maybe the district attorney made the right call.
The Open Records Law says that the DA “may” bring an action to compel compliance. The DA may also seek a civil forfeiture (not a criminal penalty) for certain violations.
Frankly, Kevin probably has more experience with this than Gravely or anyone on his staff. He may have made the right call in suggesting that Kevin proceed on his own.
What do I pay taxes for then?
Well, there is that. In years past the DA’s office rarely has to file because they were usually able to secure voluntary compliance or the case didn’t warrant prosecution. Ironically one of the latter came out of Twin Lakes where the village board was accused of going into an illegal closed session. Turned out that had the board posted a proper notice it would have been able to lawfully deal with the personnel matter in a closed session. In that case a little ass chewing surficed.
What do your north face and columbia coats say about you?
North Face = overpriced for what you get. Money waster.
Columbia = depends where you bought it and how much you paid. Generally a smarter consumer.
With that NASCAR cap, the village president looks like he is a Trump supporter.
I think Trump hats were red, but aye some were Black. 💁🏼♀️
Another club.Just like Silver Lake Ambulance service, which is dead and gone. Twin Lakes, the next frontier.
How’s the Village of Salem Lakes Fire/Rescue looking Jac*As* ….
Maybe the government runs are not so nice either….
They’re all fired!
I wonder why they aren’t as aggressive with this case, as they were with former second in command at the pooooolice department? Y’all remember that case. Right? Oh that’s right, Ted was his council and that’s just off limits here. Every since the 60’s this town is filled with outlaw bikers, drug pushers, drug users, and allegedly criminal fire fighters. Perverts I mean.
I don’t know much about this case but I do know if one’s social media profile picture looks like that, you’re into the wrong type of attention.
Isn’t it ironic that the Kenosha County District Attorney is able to make up his own laws ?
He is protecting his buddies , plain and simple.
Two sets of laws .
Gravely is a pig.
Can you say “cover up”? Because that’s precisely what this is! Just another crooked liberal democratic move! Typical….Very truly yours, Mr. Common Sense
Maybe Hannah Felipez is another E. Jean Carroll.
I know there aint much to chose from in those parts, but come on player! Any pics of the step daughter?
Lol. Not releasing them
Looks like it’s time to sue again. How can Gravely again and again protect these cretins in public office.
Is there a venue / way (not sure what the proper word is here) to try to remove Gravely from office?
You vote for someone else. This is the way.
When does Mr. Haney show up like on Green Acres?
This why Kenosha County needs a DA that with up hold the Constitution and rule of Law. Not his own agenda.
Gravely wanted in on the threesome hes a dirtbag liar who should be taken out back, twin lakes administration very corrupt