SOMERS, Wis. — A second man has now been identified and charged in connection with a series of thefts from donation boxes at Hawthorne Hollow, a popular nature sanctuary in the Village of Somers.

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Brian Keith Ohlrogge, 54, of Milwaukee, appeared in Kenosha County court Monday afternoon, where he was charged with five misdemeanors — two counts of entry into a locked coin box, two counts of criminal damage to property, and one count of theft. Court Commissioner William Michel II ordered $1,000 cash bail. Ohlrogge remains in custody and is due back in court for a pre-trial hearing on September 4, 2025.

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The charges stem from a July 5 incident in which Ohlrogge was captured on surveillance video allegedly using pliers, a stick, and even a wrench to pry open donation boxes posted at Hawthorne Hollow. A staff member monitoring the sanctuary’s cameras saw the suspect arrive on a blue recumbent bicycle, tamper with two donation boxes, and then flee. Deputies later confirmed that one box had been emptied of its cash and another was damaged.

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A week later, on July 12, Deputy Brooks spotted a man riding a recumbent-style bicycle on CTH E that matched the description and distinctive features seen in the surveillance footage. The man was identified as Ohlrogge, who initially denied having been to Hawthorne Hollow, but then admitted he had “stopped for a break.” When pressed, he admitted trying to make change for a $10 bill, and eventually confessed to using tools in an attempt to fish money out of the donation boxes. “Well, times are tough,” he told the deputy, admitting he used “pliers and a stick” in the attempt.

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Deputies report that Ohlrogge continued making incriminating statements after his arrest, telling jail staff he “felt terrible” about trying to use tools to fish the money out and that he “didn’t get the money” because the hole was too small.

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This marks the second confirmed suspect linked to donation box thefts at Hawthorne Hollow. As KCE previously reported, a Racine man, Paul DeGoot, was identified last month as a suspect in a separate incident at the sanctuary. While DeGoot has not yet been formally charged, he was caught on camera in a different theft, also involving donation boxes at the same property.

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The nonprofit relies on donations from visitors to fund its environmental education programs and park maintenance. The boxes, handcrafted by a staff member, were reportedly valued at about $200 each and were designed to encourage low-pressure giving from patrons of the preserve.

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All five of the charges against Ohlrogge are Class A misdemeanors, each carrying a maximum penalty of nine months in jail and a $10,000 fine.

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