(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — A 57-year-old Salem man with a lengthy history of run-ins with the law is facing new charges after allegedly stealing hunting equipment, damaging property, and refusing to follow police commands on private land.
Joseph J. Powell was formally charged today with misdemeanor theft, criminal damage to property, and obstructing an officer. His initial appearance is scheduled for October 15 before a Kenosha County court commissioner. The charges stem from a September 12 incident when Pleasant Prairie police were called to land owned by a local family after reports of trespassing and theft.
According to the criminal complaint, a caretaker for the family told police he caught Powell stealing a cellular trail camera and destroying the lockbox securing it, damaging both the equipment and the tree. The caretaker also reported that Powell was attempting to cut straps to a tree stand when confronted. Trail cameras on the property have been repeatedly vandalized for a lengthy period, frustrating those who maintain the land.
When officers arrived, Powell was spotted coming out of the woods near his Ford F-150. Police reported that he ignored commands to stop, appeared sweaty and scratched from moving through heavy brush, and claimed he was “picking mushrooms.” He then refused orders to switch squad cars until threatened with an obstruction charge.
A search of Powell’s backpack turned up a folding saw suspected of being used to cut the tree stand, along with a garbage bag containing corn kernels — a baiting method used by hunters. Officers also found several apples near his truck, another common baiting material, despite there being no apple trees in the area.
Powell’s record stretches back years. In 2018, he was charged in Racine County with second-degree reckless endangering safety, but avoided a felony conviction by pleading guilty to disorderly conduct and two counts of negligent operation of a motor vehicle. He received probation. In February 2025, he was charged with disorderly conduct in Racine, but the ultra-liberal Racine County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the case. More recently, in Kenosha County, Powell picked up three citations on August 14, 2025 — for disorderly conduct, littering, and reckless driving endangering safety. He is due in court on October 31 for all three.
(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)
Adding to his mounting legal troubles, Powell was arrested just yesterday in a separate case involving theft of movable property. He quickly posted the statutory bail, and prosecutors are expected to decide whether to file charges.
If convicted in the September 12 case, Powell faces up to 27 months in jail and $30,000 in fines.
KCE will provide updates as Powell’s cases continue through the courts.
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18 Responses
Dig a hole
What a scumbag. Salem has really gone to shit…
He’s a good boy, he’s trying to turn his life around. Put up the 8th grade graduation picture.
🤣🤣
What an entitled POS.
Sounds like he’s a “master baiter”
A search warrant should be filed and his property searched. This individual has stolen off my property 3 years in a row. Be nice to get my hunting equipment returned to me.
My kid keeps getting his hunting stuff stolen too. He finally decided to give up.
Where was his hunting equipment stolen from? If this was in Pleasant Prairie or Bristol area, it could be the same individual.
a thief is the lowest form of human. someone worked hard for something but they think its ok to take it. i’d say your parents must be proud but they are probably thieves as well
The epitome of a loser
hunters think they have the right to steal other hunters’ equipment. it has always been this way. Not saying I agree with the practice, but it is the way it is and always has been.
That’s a pretty general statement.
It’s not like the acceptable knocks on car salesmen.
Hunters do this ? They are dishonest ?
For hunters male and female I thought they were out there to get meat for their families. Respected nature by hunting only for what they can use.
Hunting. The most honorable way to connect with nature and feed your loved ones.
Instead they’re all scum ? Good to know !
Yes, hunters do this. But it is not so much about stealing. It is more about sabotaging the other hunter’s experience or steering “their” deer toward their hunting spot.
Honest, ethical hunters and sportsmen don’t do this! The behavior highlighted in these cases is illegal, unethical and unacceptable. Common sense.
Exactly! None of our family members would steal or ruin anyone else’s hunting things! They also don’t shoot a deer unless they have a clear shot. The ones that bombarded the deer with a bunch of bullets are unethical.
So tired of most of these posts on Kenosha Eye. Most hunters DONT do this. Most hunters don’t sabotage others. Most hunters don’t steal. Most people that post don’t mind putting their names, except here where tabloid behavior is rule. Most likely following suit of the host.
About hunters being different.
Was total sarcasm.
I know the for the most part hunters are honest ethical people. I was just playing along with the guy who said they are all bad.
I guess humor is lost on the people who take things too seriously