Felony charges have been filed in Burnett County Circuit Court against two women following an incident on June 15, 2018, at the Cabaret Bar in Webb Lake.
According to a criminal complaint, Burnett County law enforcement was called out to the Cabaret Bar on June 15, 2018, for a report of criminal damage to property. It was reported that individuals had spray painted on a sidewalk outside the bar.
Burnett County Dispatch advised the responding officer that one of the suspects had been identified as Sara Nefs and that she was on probation with a condition to not consume any alcohol and to avoid establishments that primarily serve alcohol. The other suspect was identified as Brianna Bearheart, whose vehicle was parked at the scene.
When the officer arrived on scene he was shown where the spray painting had occurred. The criminal complaint goes on to state that the officer could smell the odor of intoxicants from Nefs and advised her she was being detained.
The officer then spoke to Bearheart and questioned her as to who spray painted on the sidewalk. Beaheart responded that she had spray painted RIP Courtney as it was the 2 year anniversary of the death of Courtney Oustigoff and she had done it in memoriam.
At that time, Nefs stated to the officer that she was not going to sit in the squad vehicle. The officer detained Bearheart in handcuffs as well and escorted them both to the squad vehicle. Nefs physically resisted getting into the squad vehicle. Once she was inside the squad vehicle, the officer advised Bearheart that as she had cooperated and admitted to the property damage, she would be released.
The officer then checked that all doors and windows were closed on the squad vehicle and locked it via remote, which was confirmed by the lights flashing on the squad vehicle.
After that, the officer then went to take photographs of the spray painting and speak with any other witnesses at the bar.
After taking only 2 photos, the officer heard someone yell, “there she goes!”, and he then saw Nefs running east across County Road H, and Bearheart running west on the passenger side of the squad vehicle towards her own vehicle.
Two witnesses from the bar offered to assist and took pursuit of Nefs. The officer pursued Bearheart and successfully took her back into custody, placing her into the squad vehicle.
The officer then drove his squad vehicle in the direction that Nefs had headed, and ultimately located her being detained by the witnesses near the Fire Hall.
Nefs again physically resisted being placed into the squad vehicle, requiring the officer to lift her into the car. Bearheart stated repeatedly that she had not let Nefs out of the squad vehicle.
Nefs is charged with Class H Felony Escape. If convicted she faces a potential maximum penalty of imprisonment for 6 years, a fine of $10,000, or more.
Sara Nefs
The Court placed Nefs on a $250 cash bail bond on July 25, 2018, and she is due in court later this month for an Initial Appearance.
Online circuit court records show that Bearheart is also facing criminal charges from the same incident date for Class I Felony Harboring/Aiding a Felon, Misdemeanor Criminal Damage to Property, and Misdemeanor Bail Jumping. Bearheart is scheduled to make an initial appearance on her criminal charges this week. A conviction of Class I Felony Harboring/Aiding a Felon has a possible maximum penalty of imprisonment for 3 years and 6 months, a fine of $10,000 or both.
Brianna Bearheart
Bearheart has other criminal cases pending against her in Burnett County Circuit Court with charges of Class H Felony Strangulation and Suffocation, Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct, Misdemeanor Domestic Disorderly Conduct, as well as one case filed against her in Washburn County Circuit Court charging her with Class H Felony Bail Jump, Misdemeanor Operating While Revoked, and Misdemeanor Ignition Interlock Device Tampering/Failure to Install/Violate Court Order. Details of those cases are not known to DrydenWire.com.
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: Jul 12, 2018 8:12 am CDT
