(Squad Car Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
WHEATLAND, Wis. – A Wheatland man is facing felony charges after allegedly firing a gun in his backyard, threatening suicide, and blocking his wife in a closet during a heated domestic disturbance Tuesday afternoon.
Robert J. Hula Jr., 41, was charged Wednesday in Kenosha County Circuit Court with false imprisonment and disorderly conduct while armed, both as acts of domestic abuse. Court Commissioner William Michel II set his bail at $1,000 cash. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 21.
(Kenosha County Sheriff)
Deputies were dispatched around 3:22 p.m. to the 6700 block of Fox River Road after a concerned friend reported that Hula had fired a gun and was threatening to harm himself. The caller had just left the home after receiving a panicked phone call from the victim.
When deputies arrived, the woman emerged from the home visibly distraught and told them Hula had recently returned from a dental procedure, possibly under the influence of painkillers, and had been drinking. After she raised concerns about him driving, he allegedly began yelling, throwing objects, and breaking things inside the house.
She said she tried to retreat to her office, but heard a gunshot in the backyard. When a friend came to the house to help, Hula allegedly screamed at both women and shouted, “You want me to fix it? I’ll go blow my f**king brains out!”
The victim recorded parts of the incident on her phone. In one video, Hula can be heard screaming profanities and demanding signed divorce papers while the victim repeatedly pleads with him to leave her alone. He reportedly attempted to grab her phone, causing it to fall to the ground. In a later recording, she said she hid in a closet, and Hula intentionally blocked the door with his body to keep her from leaving.
She managed to escape after receiving a call from law enforcement. Deputies found Hula outside the home, yelling but compliant. He admitted to firing one round in the backyard and said he had consumed about a half-liter of Jim Beam. Deputies recovered a loaded 9mm Ruger handgun from inside the home.
A neighbor confirmed hearing gunshots. The friend who called 911 told deputies that Hula was yelling threats of self-harm and refused to separate from the victim when urged to do so.
If convicted, Hula faces up to six years in prison for the felony false imprisonment charge and up to nine months for the disorderly conduct charge, which includes a weapons enhancer. He remains in custody at the Kenosha County Jail.
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2 Responses
I’m sorry but a thousand dollars? What is wrong with our judicial system?
Annie Oakley here is only 41?? Have more Beam, bro!