(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — A 47-year-old Kenosha woman accused of making a false emergency report that drew nearly every patrol squad on duty was in court Friday, where a commissioner allowed her to sign herself out of jail without posting any cash.
Danielle J. Barnes was charged with one felony count of false reporting of an emergency — commonly referred to as “swatting” — after allegedly telling dispatchers on May 4 that an armed man had forced a woman into a transitional living facility in the 4000 block of 14th Avenue, on Kenosha’s north side.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
According to the criminal complaint, the call prompted a massive police response, with officers drawing their firearms and conducting a sweep of the building. No armed man or emergency was found.
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Kenosha County Deputy District Attorney Drew Burgoyne asked Court Commissioner Donald Bielski to impose a $5,000 cash bond, citing the serious danger posed by the alleged conduct and listing Barnes’ prior convictions, including identity theft in 2010, resisting or obstructing in both 2009 and 2016, and repeated disorderly conduct charges dating back to 2007.
“The charge here is a felony,” Burgoyne said in court. “It’s swatting — false reporting of an emergency. It’s a type of conduct that has the potential to cause harm to the community. Highly trained officers are tied up having to respond to this instead of to an actual emergency.”
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
Despite the prosecution’s concerns, Commissioner Bielski found Barnes’ record to be dated and said the nature of the charge was “rather unusual.” He authorized a signature bond, meaning Barnes was released without paying money up front.
The criminal complaint includes an admission from Barnes that she falsely claimed a man had a gun. She told police she was angry and “probably just said something.” She later added that she thought the man might have had “something black” in his hand but admitted she wasn’t sure what it was.
Barnes is scheduled to return to court for a preliminary hearing on May 23. If convicted, she faces up to 3 years and 6 months in prison and a $10,000 fine.
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18 Responses
Stupid repeats when not held accountable.
How did Commissioner Donald Bielski get the job, he is a lousy attorney? The whole court system in Kenosha is BROKEN!
Yes! He is horrible! I don’t get it either
Every judge gets to pick two part-time commissioners. Sometimes it’s kind of an honor for a friend and/or a senior attorney and they don’t do much work while some of the supplemental commissioners actually fill in quite a bit. If/when a new judge gets elected that judge gets to pick their own people.
Politics.
Does Bielski have a “resist” flag on his house? What is his motive if not protecting the citizens of this community?
Sanford’s looking more like 67. They had to get his age wrong.
Wtf Bielsky? This is an unusual charge? These types of calls are going on all over the country. Get your head out your ass commissioner.
Or get your head out of the bourbon glass and off the swill sweaty pillow.
She looks like her face beat the hell out of a meat tenderizer.
The second I saw the red clown glasses on the court commissioner, I knew…
Wow…..that face looks like it’s done some hard shit.
Then, there is the woman too….
This is the dumbest lawyer ever. Why do you keep giving repeaters the opportunity to be out in civilization and they don’t appreciate it in the first place their menace to society. They don’t belong out in civilization. They prove that time and time again. Very sad generation
She definitely looks sober
“Boy, Boy, Chick looks like a Gentleman!”
Bizarro Aerosmith
Red noses and faces are not indicative of anything…
Bielski is and always has been a shitty lawyer (and asshole, too).
He looks like he has one foot in the grave already….
This Bielski guy is just slapping people on the rist with NO repercussions! Where was he when I was getting in trouble??
*wrist