Man Facing Charges Following Gun Incident in Burnett County

A Danbury, WI man is facing felony charges in Burnett County Circuit Court following a gun incident which occurred on April 25, 2018.

According to a criminal complaint filed against Michael Benjamin, the St. Croix Police Department responded to a report of shots fired at around 7:30 P.M.

Witnesses told law enforcement that the incident may have been the result of a disagreement over $50.

Officers found shell casings inside the residence where the incident occurred, as well as a bullet on the ground near the residence. A surveillance system attached to the residence caught video footage of Benjamin arriving at the residence. The video footage also shows Benjamin waving a pistol around and pointing it at the residence.

The criminal complaint goes on to state that the video footage shows Benjamin pointing the firearm at an individual’s head while talking, and then later once again pointing it at that same individual before leaving the residence in the same vehicle he arrived in.

Benjamin is charged with Class F Felony 1st Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, under circumstances which show utter disregard for human life, and Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct with Use of a Dangerous Weapon. The maximum penalty for a conviction of Class F Felony 1st Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety is imprisonment for not more than twelve years and six years, a maximum fine of $25,000, or both. A conviction for Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct, Use of a Dangerous Weapon could result in a maximum conviction of 9 months imprisonment, a fine of $1,000, or both.

According to online circuit court records, Benjamin appeared for a bail bond hearing in Burnett County circuit Court on April 30, 2018 and is scheduled to make an initial appearance on his criminal charges later this month.

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.