County committee launches investigation into supervisor's conduct as new allegation surfaces
Three things to read this weekend: Marathon County investigates Nicholas Endres, court documents shed light on an animal abuse case and Kronenwetter considers a major distribution center.
Marathon County leaders voted unanimously to launch an investigation into County Board Member Nicholas Endres. And that comes after new allegations around election fraud surfaced.
The county’s Executive Committee last week voted to direct the administrator to hire a third-party investigator to look into Endres’ conduct.
The Wausonian reported that Endres had been arrested following an alleged domestic abuse incident, and then later reported a second arrest following his alleged violation of a non-contact order with his wife, relying on a copy of the police report from the incident. Those charges were read-in when Endres pleaded no contest to one count of disorderly conduct in the first case.
But new allegations surfaced during the meeting that haven’t yet been made public.
According to a copy of the diversion agreement The Wausonian reviewed, the Wausau Police Department referred charges of misdemeanor bail jumping and election fraud — falsifying nomination papers.
The agreement doesn’t spell out the nature of the charges.
While he didn’t have the complaint from the Wausau Police Department, Marathon County Administrator Lance Leonhard said the new allegations had to do with the submission of nomination papers and some “potentially inaccurate information” that might have been used in that submission.
In response to a question from an Executive Committee member, Leonhard said charges related to elections and nomination papers often constitute felony charges, depending on the facts.
According to the diversion agreement, Endres pleaded no contest to the disorderly conduct charge (with the domestic abuse modifier). The charges against Endres will be dismissed in 18 months if Endres follows the terms of the diversion agreement. The Wausonian was not able to see the terms of that agreement.
The new rule around supervisor conduct the Marathon County Board approved last month was used in the Executive Committee’s decision to investigate Endres’ conduct. Leonhard confirmed to The Wausonian that all of the charges included in the case file will be considered.
Below: the proposed Kronenwetter distribution center drawing resident concern and new court details in the Town of Day animal abuse case.
