Waukesha - Former Lisbon supervisor James C. Stadler was sentenced this afternoon to three months in the work-release jail for wielding a gun at his wife last June.
Stadler, 42, was ordered to a nine month jail sentence, but Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge J. Mac Davis said Stadler could serve the last six months on electronic monitoring if he follows all jail rules. Davis also ordered Stadler to five years probation and ordered him not to have any contact with his wife or eldest daughter unless they agree in writing to have contact.
In February a jury found Stadler guilty of felony intimidation of a witness, and misdemeanor counts of pointing a firearm at another, three counts of possession of a switchblade and disorderly conduct while possessing a dangerous weapon. As a result of the conviction, Stadler resigned from the Lisbon Town Board.
According to the criminal complaint, Stadler and his wife had on-going problems and Stadler's daughter, Jessica, told police her father would shoot himself, the complaint said.
When Lynn Stadler arrived home on June 8, 2007, the couple began to argue and she told him she had filed for divorce, the complaint said. Jessica Stadler testified at the trial she took her 2-year-old sister out of the house after she saw her father grab a handgun from a cupboard, the complaint said.
James Stadler apologized for his actions during the sentencing.
"I'm sorry Lynn for all I did," he said turning toward her in the gallery. Jessica Stadler was out of the courtroom during her father's statement. James Stadler will begin his sentence May 28.