BURNETT COUNTY — The Court has accepted a settlement agreement on the fifth of six criminal cases that were filed following the culmination of a drug investigation in Burnett County.
BACKSTORY
According to a press release on October 15, 2025, at approximately 10:10a, the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office conducted three simultaneous drug search warrants in the Village of Grantsburg.
These warrants were obtained based on information gathered from an investigation into drug trafficking in the Grantsburg area.
The warrants resulted in six arrests and the seizure of methamphetamine, marijuana, and several items of drug paraphernalia.
The Grantsburg Police Department, Siren Police Department, and Burnett County Human Services assisted the Burnett County Sheriff’s Office.
Six people were charged in Burnett County Circuit Court: Orval Simon, Rita Wenzel, Daniel Blahowski, Dominique Fleckner, Bradley Belisle, and Larry Kruger.
Orval Simon, age 60, of Grantsburg – Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Class H Felony Bail Jumping, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Misdemeanor Violation of a Restraining Order. The charges filed against Orval were dismissed and read in during a hearing on November 19, 2025.
Orval was sentenced on convictions for two counts of Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine that were filed against him in two separate Burnett County court cases. Orval was ordered to serve 100 days in county jail with 79 days of credit, followed by 1 year of probation and 6 months of additional jail time, imposed and stayed.
Larry Kruger, age 66, of Grantsburg – Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Larry was placed on a $500 cash bond when he appeared for a bail bond hearing on October 16, 2025. His bond was posted the next day. Kruger appeared on March 26, 2026, for a plea and sentencing hearing on his case.
Judge Mogen accepted Larry’s plea of Guilty to an amended charge of Misdemeanor Possession of Amphetamine. The remaining charge was dismissed and read in. Judge Mogen ordered Kruger to pay $500 in court costs, fines, and fees.
Bradley Belisle, age 48, of Grantsburg – Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine as a Party to a Crime, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two counts of Misdemeanor Child Neglect.
Bradley was subject to a $500 cash bond that was ordered on October 16, 2025. He appeared for a preliminary examination hearing in January 2026, and Judge Mogen found probable cause to bind him over. Bradley appeared on April 16, 2026, and entered a plea of guilty to his charge of Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine as a Party to a Crime. The remaining charges against him were dismissed and read in.
Judge Mogen ordered Bradley to serve an imposed and stayed sentence with 1 year of probation. Conditions of probation will require Bradley to maintain absolute sobriety, undergo regular testing, and complete all treatment and programming required by the Department of Corrections. If his probation is revoked, Bradley will face 9 months in county jail with credit for 12 days already served.
Dominique Fleckner, age 32, of Grantsburg - Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine as a Party to a Crime, Class I Felony Possession of THC 2+ Offense, Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and two counts of Misdemeanor Child Neglect.
Dominique was placed on a $500 cash bond on October 16, 2025. Her bond was posted a few days later. She appeared for a preliminary examination hearing in January 2026, and probable cause was found by the Court to bind her over.
Dominique appeared most recently on June 9, 2026, to enter a plea of Guilty to her charge of Class I Felony Possession of THC 2+ Offense. Judge Mogen accepted a proposed deferred agreement for Dominique and did not find her guilty.
Online court records indicate that the deferred agreement is scheduled to last for one year. Details on the conditions of the agreement were not listed in online records at last check; however, if Dominique completes the conditions successfully, the charge will be amended to Misdemeanor Possession of THC, and she will be convicted of that. Her remaining charges were dismissed and read in. Dominique will be subject to a bail bond requiring her to maintain absolute sobriety.
Daniel Blahowski, age 65, of Grantsburg – Class I Felony Maintain Drug Trafficking Place, two counts of Class E Felony Manufacture / Deliver Amphetamine (>3-10g), Class I Felony Possession of Methamphetamine, Misdemeanor Possession of THC, Misdemeanor Resisting an Officer, and Misdemeanor Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
On October 16, 2025, Judge Mogen ordered a $10,000 cash bond for Blahowski. On November 19, 2025, Judge Mogen heard a motion by Blahowski’s defense counsel and amended the bond to $2,500. Blahowski waived his preliminary examination hearing in January 2026. He appeared most recently in August 2026, and is set to plead on September 9, 2026.
UPDATE
Rita Wenzel, age 57, of Grantsburg – Class E Felony Manufacture / Deliver Amphetamine (>3-10g). On October 16, 2025, Rita appeared for a bail bond hearing. The Hon. Judge Melissia Mogen ordered a $10,000 cash bond. Rita appeared while in custody on November 17, 2025, for a preliminary examination hearing. Judge Mogen heard testimony and found probable cause to bind over.
Rita appeared on January 29, 2026, and Judge Mogen granted a motion to amend her bond to $5,000 cash. That bond was posted the same day.
Rita last appeared on August 31, 2026, for a sentencing hearing on a conviction of an amended charge of Class F Felony Manufacture / Deliver Amphetamine (>3-10g). The Court granted the amendment during a June 2026 hearing. Judge Mogen ordered Rita to serve an imposed and stayed sentence with 5 years of probation.
Conditions of her sentence include requirements for Rita to maintain absolute sobriety, undergo regular testing, continue treatment, complete Trauma Therapy Evaluation, Anger Management and/or Cognitive Therapy Program, and follow through. If her probation is revoked, Rita could face incarceration in state prison for 3 years and 6 months, followed by 5 years of extended supervision.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Sep 03, 2026 9:39 am CDT
