I reported last year that a Racine County man accused of attempting to kill a DNR warden on northern Wisconsin was released on a signature bond by a pathetic judge in Forest County. Yesterday, that same judge finally ordered the defendant, Mark Szczerba II of Kansasville, be sent to prison 20 months after the original incident.
After prosecution of the case was taken over by the Wisconsin Department of Justice after dubious handling of it by the DA in Forest County, Szczerba entered into a plea bargain in which he pleaded guilty to battery of a law enforcement officer. Other counts were dismissed but “read in” to the record. A charge of attempted homicide against Szczerba was dismissed as part of the deal.
According to the criminal complaint, which I reported on extensively on belling.com and my former radio show, Szczerba and his girlfriend were riding a UTV after dark. His daughter was driving another UTV. A DNR warden pulled the daughter over for speeding. The complaint alleges Szczerba, who has a criminal record, intervened. The warden said he feared for his life.
The warden alleged Szczerba attempted to strangle him. The warden fired a taser shot and struck Szczerba. Officers from multiple law enforcement agencies then responded and Szczerba was arrested.
However, the small town judge, Forest County Circuit Judge Leon Stenz, released Szczerba on a signature bond, meaning he was freed without posting any cash. It wasn’t until Szczerba eventually pleaded guilty that the lenient Stenz made him put up $25,000 cash.
Yesterday, Stenz sentenced Szczerba to four and a half years in prison with supervision after that. The court record indicates Szczerba expressed remorse at his sentencing hearing. The sentence was virtually identical to what was requested by the state Attorney General’s office.
So Szczerba, who has had numerous run-ins with the law, is now finally headed to prison. Warning to the officials there: Szczerba has a history of attacking wardens.
Mark Belling
March 6, 2025
