KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — A 49-year-old Brighton man widely known in the community as the “failed farmer” has earned himself another title: convicted criminal. Michael A. Daniels, a financially troubled farmer who also uses the alias “Raymond Rossi” on Facebook, was convicted of violating a harassment restraining order obtained by a 42-year-old Kenosha man whom Daniels threatened to murder and make his body disappear. The conviction adds to Daniels’ lengthy history of legal troubles, unpaid debts, financial problems, and courtroom battles, including a six-month jail sentence imposed in a separate child support contempt proceeding.

Daniels pleaded guilty on October 15, 2026, during a hearing in Racine County, where his Kenosha County criminal case had been assigned to an outside judge. Court records show a judgment of conviction was entered Wednesday, October 21. Daniels was assessed $1,132.50 in fines and court costs, with $500 in previously posted cash bail applied toward that amount, leaving a balance of $632.50. He received no additional jail time in the criminal case.

The conviction comes after Daniels spent more than a year fighting the misdemeanor charge, which stemmed from his attempt to use a mutual acquaintance to pressure the man into dropping a restraining order. The case followed threats by Daniels to beat the man, have him murdered by members of a motorcycle gang, and make his body disappear.

Threats, Restraining Order And Arrest
The criminal case began in May 2025, after the 42-year-old Kenosha man obtained a temporary restraining order against Daniels following a series of threats. The order prohibited Daniels from contacting the man directly or through third parties.

According to the criminal complaint, Daniels was served with the temporary restraining order on May 20, 2025. Shortly afterward, Daniels contacted a mutual acquaintance and instructed that person to deliver a message pressuring the man to drop the restraining order.

The witness subsequently corroborated the communication to Kenosha police. According to the complaint, Daniels threatened to attend every village meeting so that his presence would prevent the protected man from attending. Daniels denied the allegations when contacted by police but agreed to report to the police department, where he was arrested.

At a subsequent contested restraining order hearing, Daniels invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination rather than answer questions about the allegations. Kenosha County Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II granted a four-year harassment injunction protecting the man through 2029.

Daniels was subsequently charged with one misdemeanor count of violating a temporary harassment restraining order, punishable by up to nine months in jail. Michel set $500 cash bail, which Daniels posted.

Attorney Withdraws After Daniels Cannot Meet Payment Obligations
Daniels’ criminal defense became complicated by difficulties retaining legal representation. Attorney John Anthony Ward initially represented Daniels but withdrew in March 2026. Daniels subsequently retained Milwaukee attorney Clare Kathleen Schum on July 10, 2026.

On September 28, Schum filed a motion asking the court to permit her withdrawal, explaining that Daniels had failed to fulfill the financial terms of their agreement. Schum said she had initially been confident Daniels could comply with the payment plan established when he retained her. However, she informed the court that Daniels had been unable to continue meeting those obligations.

The court subsequently permitted Schum to withdraw, leaving Daniels to resolve his criminal case without retained counsel. During an October 1 status conference, prosecutors outlined a proposed agreement under which Daniels could plead guilty and receive a financial penalty rather than jail time.

Two weeks later, Daniels accepted the plea agreement. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Benno represented the state at the October 15 hearing.

Facebook Messages Reveal Daniels Wanted To “Destroy” Victim, Used Alias To Launch Anonymous Attacks
Private Facebook messages obtained by Kenosha County Eye reveal that Daniels communicated extensively with a controversial local hate blog, expressing his desire to destroy the 42-year-old Kenosha man who later obtained the restraining order against him. The messages also show Daniels using the Facebook alias “Raymond Rossi” to submit anonymous personal attacks against the man.

On May 9, 2025, Daniels wrote to the blog, “I want that man destroyed,” followed by “I want to destroy him.” He then asked the blog’s operator, “How do we do it?” Later that afternoon, Daniels declared, “We will destroy him,” and “I have it all figured out.” He explained that he needed the man to mention him in a news story, adding, “And it’s game on.”

On May 17, Daniels acknowledged making a statement about physically assaulting the man, writing, “He’s going to put a restraining order against me for telling someone he needs his ass beat.”

The communications continued into 2026, when Daniels began messaging the same blog under the Facebook name “Raymond Rossi.” On March 3, 2026, the account opened a message with “Anonymous please,” before making unsubstantiated personal accusations about the man’s substance use and mental health. The blog’s operator responded, “Your privacy will be respected.”

On April 14, the Raymond Rossi account further connected itself to Daniels. After confirming he was communicating with the blog’s operator, the account identified itself as “Michael” and supplied the same telephone number Daniels had previously used in messages sent under his real name.

The messages document a sustained effort by Daniels to attack the reputation of the man who obtained the restraining order, including attempts to distribute criticism anonymously while concealing his involvement.

Six-Month Jail Sentence For Child Support And Loan Violations
Daniels’ legal problems extend beyond his criminal conviction. On October 1, 2025, Kenosha County Family Court Commissioner Alexandra Smathers found Daniels in contempt of court for failing to comply with child support obligations and required payments on a roughly $170,000 loan involving his former in-laws.

Smathers imposed a 180-day jail sentence but stayed it on several conditions, including monthly payments of $2,500, remaining current on child support, attending court hearings, and paying his former wife’s attorney fees.

On February 6, 2026, Daniels failed to appear for a required review hearing. Judge Angelina Gabriele lifted the stay and ordered the six-month jail commitment into effect. Daniels was permitted to purge the contempt by paying $5,000, which he subsequently paid, lifting the incarceration requirement at that time.

Millions In Debt, Bankruptcy And Civil Judgments
Daniels’ financial problems stretch back years. In 2017, his farming operation, Crane Grain Farms, LLC, sought Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection after reporting more than $4 million in liabilities against approximately $3.6 million in assets. Bankruptcy records documented substantial outstanding loans, unpaid obligations, and serious cash-flow difficulties.

Civil judgments against Daniels have included $158,434.44 entered in June 2024 and another $135,236.20 entered in June 2025, along with additional judgments involving unpaid business obligations and other disputes.

Crane Grain Farms was also the subject of 18 Wisconsin Department of Revenue tax warrants filed between 2021 and 2023. Those warrants were subsequently satisfied, according to updated court records.

Daniels’ earlier legal history includes disorderly conduct convictions in 2004 and 2006, the latter following an altercation with a relative in which authorities alleged physical violence. He was also cited for trespassing in 2007 after driving farming equipment through a neighbor’s crops. In 2023, Daniels was fined $2,581 for pesticide application violations involving improper licensing and certification.

Daniels has also come under scrutiny for his use of racial slurs, including the “N-word.” Kenosha County Eye has previously documented an instance of Daniels using the slur, raising questions about his attitudes toward race.

The latest conviction brings Daniels’ restraining order case to a close more than 16 months after the criminal complaint was filed. The protective order remains in effect through 2029, and Daniels’ guilty plea establishes that he violated the temporary order shortly after being served in May 2025.

Kenosha County Eye Editor Responds To Conviction
The victim in this case is Kenosha County Eye editor Kevin Mathewson, the author of this article. Mathewson said he will not be intimidated or silenced by people who threaten him, even with murder, simply for reporting facts supported by public records. He expressed satisfaction that District Attorney Xavier Solis’ office secured a criminal conviction rather than reducing the charge to a ticket, as Mathewson said previous district attorneys had done in other cases involving Daniels.

Mathewson said he will continue reporting the facts regardless of who dislikes them or how far they are willing to go to intimidate him. “Simply put: FAFO.”