Rice Lake Man Sentenced On Charges of Operate Firearm While Intoxicated

David Bartels, of Rice Lake, WI, has been sentenced in Barron County Circuit Court regarding his charges of Operate Firearm While Intoxicated.

DrydenWire.com reported in February 2018 (see below) that Bartels had been arrested and charged following an incident in which the Rice Lake Police Department received a report that Bartels had discharged a firearm at the floor of a residence. The caller and the children that were in the residence were safely evacuated by officers who responded to the scene.

Charges of Class F Felony 1st Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety and Misdemeanor Operate Firearm While Intoxicated were filed against Bartels, and according to online circuit court records, he appeared for a plea and sentencing hearing June 13, 2018.

The Court heard from both the District Attorney and Defense Attorney as well as accepting a Victim Impact Statement from the victim in the case who did not attend the court hearing.

Bartels plead Guilty to an amended charge of Misdemeanor Battery along pleading Guilty to the charge of Misdemeanor Operate Firearm While Intoxicated. The Court found Bartels Guilty and ordered a withheld sentence, 2 years of Probation with 30 days of conditional jail time for the conviction of Battery and 15 days conditional jail time for the conviction of Operate Firearm While Intoxicated.

Online circuit court records also indicate that the Court granted Huber Work Release privileges for Bartels, as well as allowing Bartels to perform 120 hours of community service for at least some of the conditional jail time. If Bartels fails to complete the community service, he was ordered to report to jail immediately.

Conditions of Bartels probation also require him to maintain absolute sobriety and complete an Alcohol and Other Drug Assessment and comply with any recommended treatment. Bartels is also prohibited from possessing any firearms, other than for purposes of his employment.

**Previous Post**

Update: Rice Lake Man Facing Felony Charges After Gun Incident

Thursday, February 15, 2018 | by Ben Dryden

Felony charges have been filed against a Rice Lake man who was arrested recently following a reported firearm incident in the city of Rice Lake, WI.

David Bartels has been charged with Class F Felony 1st Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety and Misdemeanor Operate Firearm While Intoxicated in Barron County Circuit Court.

These charges stem from an incident which occurred on February 4, 2018. According to a media release from the Rice Lake Police Department, a call was received just before 5a from a female who stated that her husband had discharged a firearm at the floor inside their residence. She advised that she and the children in the residence were secured in a separate room.

Responding law enforcement were able to safely evacuate the caller and the children from the residence just shortly after 5a. The Barron County Emergency Response Team provided assistance and Bartels was taken into custody around 7:30a.

Online circuit court records show that Bartel appeared for a bail bond hearing on February 5, 2018, at which time the Court placed Bartels on a $500 cash bail bond which was later posted. Conditions of Bartels’ bail bond prohibit him from possessing any firearms other than for employment purposes or possessing or consuming any alcohol.

Bartels is scheduled to appear next in Barron County Circuit Court for a preliminary examination hearing in March.

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.

**Previous Post**

Man in Custody After Allegedly Firing Gun During Altercation in Barron County

Monday, February 5, 2018 | Media Release

On Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 4:52 AM, officers were dispatched to a residence on the south end of the city where a female caller advised her husband had discharged a firearm at the floor inside the residence during an altercation. The caller advised she had secured herself and children in a separate room.

Responding officers and deputies were able to safely remove the children and caller from the residence at 5:07 am. With the assistance of the Barron County Emergency Response Team, officers were able to take the male subject, identified as David Bartels, 37, of Rice Lake into custody at 7:29 am without further incident.

Bartels was transported to the Barron County Jail pending formal charges by the Barron County District Attorney's Office.