Threats net probation, jail for Poplar man

A Poplar man who has run unsuccessfully for a variety of elected offices, including the U.S. Congress in 2010, will spend one year on probation for threatening a state trooper’s girlfriend after his wife was arrested by the trooper for operating while intoxicated.

Gary D. Kauther, 52, pleaded guilty to one count misdemeanor disorderly conduct Monday in Douglas County Circuit Court. Tuesday, he was sentenced to one-year probation and seven days jail. Huber work release was granted. Kauther also was ordered to have no contact with the trooper, his family or his property, undergo a mental health assessment and pay a $50 fine plus court costs and surcharges.

According to the criminal complaint:

Kauther went to Wisconsin State Trooper Troy Stage’s home in Oakland at about 1:20 a.m. Dec. 11 and knocked on the door until Stage’s girlfriend answered. He told her that he was going to be hunting on Stage’s property the following day. Kauther said Stage had just arrested his wife and he “Don’t play games like that.”

He said he was going to be watching for Stage and if he hears gunshots, he’ll know why. He also stated that he would hunt Stage down.

There were children sleeping in the residence during the incident. Only one was awakened by the altercation.

Stage had stopped a vehicle on Berg Park Road about an hour prior to the incident at his home in Oakland.

The female driver, Theresa Kauther, was taken into custody for a first-offense operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated; her husband was a passenger in the vehicle at the time.

Kauther made the statements at Stage’s home after the trooper arrested his wife.

In sentencing Gary Kauther, Judge Kelly Thimm said it was a serious disorderly conduct charge, but the Poplar man took responsibility for his actions.

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