Tim Ryan, tryan@wolfrivermedia.com
A member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Council is facing a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct for an alleged verbal flap with a tribal secretary last month.
Jeremy R. Mohawk is accused of becoming “profane, boisterous and threatening” during the incident, according to the criminal complaint, in which he allegedly yelled at Jerilyn Johnson, stuck his finger in her face and used foul language.
Mohawk is due in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court on Monday for an initial appearance.
He could face a maximum possible penalty of 90 days imprisonment and a $1,000 fine if found guilty.
Stockbridge-Munsee police were called to the tribal offices on the morning of Oct. 6 after getting a phone call from President Shannon Holsey, who said Mohawk was creating a disturbance, according to the complaint.
The complaint states that when police arrived Johnson was still emotionally upset by the encounter, which occurred while Mohawk was at the tribal offices waiting for some documents to be processed.
The complaint alleges Mohawk stuck his finger in Johnson’s face, yelled at her and used profane language.
The incident allegedly happened in the office of Tribal Administrator Linda Mohawk-Katchenago, who tried to get between Mohawk and Johnson to defuse the situation.
Mohawk-Katchenago told police she was concerned for Johnson’s safety.
Other witnesses reported they heard the encounter and heard Mohawk using profane language, according to the complaint.
The complaint states Mohawk later admitted in an interview with police to disrupting the work environment and using “the f-bomb” about four times. However, he denied sticking his finger in Johnson’s face.
Mohawk was freed on a $150 cash bond.
A call to tribal offices for a comment was referred to the tribe’s public relations firm, Reputation Partners. A spokesperson said the firm does not comment on the tribe’s personnel matters.
