KENOSHA, Wis. — Michael A. Daniels, 49, of Brighton, appeared at the Kenosha County Public Safety Building recently attempting to have the editor of Kenosha County Eye charged with criminal defamation over a series of articles documenting his extensive legal and financial troubles — only to have a sheriff’s deputy conclude the reporting was accurate and based on readily accessible public records.

According to the incident report, Daniels told a deputy his attorney advised him to pursue criminal charges, directed him to statutes he believed applied, and contacted the district attorney’s office about the issue. Daniels complained the coverage harmed his reputation and claimed he had lost more than $400,000 in farm ground, trucking contracts and other business opportunities as a result. The report indicates Daniels also made unrelated personal assertions during his meeting with law enforcement, including claiming Mathewson was “in love” with Daniels’ former girlfriend — a claim with no connection to the reporting and unsupported by any evidence.

The deputy also documented that Daniels showed him a text message exchange in which Daniels wrote, “He is a worthless (final word is scribbled out.)” The report specifically notes that the last word had been scratched out in the version presented to law enforcement. However, Kenosha County Eye possesses a true and accurate copy of that same text message thread in which the scratched-out word is clearly visible and reads “nigger,” referring to the protected person.

After reviewing the articles in question, the deputy concluded the reporting was factual and supported by public court records and news archives, and that no criminal offense had occurred. The deputy declined to request charges, determining the matter was civil in nature.

Financial Collapse And Contempt Of Court

Daniels’ legal and financial troubles have spanned decades and multiple areas of civil and criminal court records.

In October 2025, Family Court Commissioner Alexandra Smathers found Daniels in contempt of court for failing to pay child support and make required payments on a roughly $170,000 loan to his former in-laws. A six-month jail sentence was imposed but stayed on conditions that included making $2,500 monthly payments, remaining current on child support obligations, appearing at all scheduled hearings, and paying his ex-wife’s attorney fees.

When Daniels failed to appear at a required review hearing, the stay was lifted and the full 180-day sentence was ordered. He was allowed to purge the contempt by paying $5,000, which court records later showed he did.

Daniels filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy in 2017, reporting more than $4 million in liabilities, including delinquent farm debts, unpaid taxes, and lapsed business loans tied to his former company, Crane Grain Farms, LLC. Since then, courts have entered multiple civil judgments against him — including at least $158,434.44 in June 2024 and $135,236.20 in June 2025 — none of which have been satisfied, according to court records.

He also had 18 Wisconsin Department of Revenue tax warrants against Crane Grain Farms, all of which have since been satisfied, according to updated court records.

In some cases, Daniels has been barred from buying farm supplies on credit and must pay cash upfront due to a history of missed payments and defaults.

Pending Criminal Case: Harassment Restraining Order Violation

Daniels is currently facing a criminal charge tied to a harassment restraining order. The restraining order stemmed from allegations that Daniels threatened a Kenosha man, warning he would “beat [the man’s] ass,” “have him killed by a motorcycle gang,” and “make his body disappear.” A protective order was issued and remains in effect through 2029.

After Daniels was served with the temporary restraining order but before the final hearing, he allegedly violated it by initiating third-party contact with the protected person. That violation led to his arrest and charge before the hearing was ever held. At the subsequent contested hearing before Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II, Daniels invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination rather than testify about the allegations. Commissioner Michel granted the restraining order.

Michel previously set $500 cash bail in that criminal case, and Daniels was released pending future proceedings.

History Of Legal And Criminal Issues

Court records show Daniels’ legal trouble goes back more than 20 years:

• In 2004, Daniels pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct after being cited for urinating in public.
• In 2006, he was arrested for domestic violence after a violent incident with a relative in which he allegedly choked, punched and slammed the man; Daniels later pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.
• In 2007, Daniels was cited for trespassing after driving farm equipment over a neighbor’s planted crops.
• In 2023, he was fined $2,581 for applying pesticide without a license — including allegations of multiple unlicensed pesticide applications.

Those incidents, reflected in a summary of Daniels’ legal history included in recent coverage, illustrate the breadth of his interactions with law enforcement and regulatory authorities spanning decades.

Attorney’s Disciplinary Record

Daniels’ attorney, John Anthony Ward, has been publicly disciplined multiple times by the Wisconsin Supreme Court for professional misconduct, including sanctions involving unreasonable fee practices and mishandling of client funds — matters documented in publicly available disciplinary records and prior Kenosha County Eye reporting.

Ward also previously ran for circuit court judge and was defeated by Judge Jodi Meier in that election.

Mathewson’s Response

In response to Daniels’ complaint, Mathewson said: “For Ward to advise his client to go to the sheriff’s office and consume law enforcement resources over a civil dispute is extremely alarming. These are taxpayer-funded resources meant for real crimes. The people of Kenosha County are fortunate he is not a sitting judge.” Ward ran for judge and lost by a large margin against Judge Jodi Meier.

Mathewson added: “I have been married for 17 years and have never been in love with anyone other than my wife. The attempt to inject irrelevant personal claims into a discussion about documented public records speaks for itself.”