Fine imposed in terrorist threat case

A 62-year-old Harshaw man has been ordered to pay a $1,500 fine after pleading no contest to possession of a short-barreled shotgun, a Class H felony. Three other counts, including making terrorist threats, were dismissed but read-in for the purposes of sentencing, per a plea agreement with the state.

As a result of the felony conviction, Terry Lenard Tress will be prohibited from possessing firearms.

Tress was sentenced Wednesday, June 19 with Judge Daniel Overbey of Vilas County appearing via Zoom.

According to the criminal complaint, the charges against Tress involved an incident at the Willow Haven Bar and Grill in May 2023.

According to the investigating officer’s  report attached to the complaint, Tress entered the bar “which was full of patrons,” placed a $20 bill on the bar and asked for a beer. 

The bar’s owner told deputies the bartender didn’t take Tress’s money “as the bartender was dealing with other patrons.”

Tress was then said to have started swearing at the bartender about why a beer cost $20.

The bar’s owner told authorities the bartender reported that Tress was irate and stated he was going to chop off the bartender’s head, then threatened other patrons in the bar, stating that he had a machete and he would “stack them up.” 

“It was reported that numerous other comments were supposedly made to other patrons in the bar,” the report said.

According to the report, Tress was escorted out of the bar by the bartender. 

“It was reported that when Tress was outside the bar, it was believed he had knives around his ankles and was taping them to his ankles and/or lower legs,” the report states. 

The bar owner was asked to contact the Oneida County sheriff’s office if she saw Tress again. 

In his report, the officer said a “confidential party” later told authorities they felt Tress was a danger to himself and to others “and Tress was very anti-law enforcement.”

 The confidential party stated that Tress had said if he was contacted by law enforcement, “he would not be going with them voluntarily. “

The officer asked the confidential party if they knew about any long guns or any other weapons. 

“The confidential party stated there were a lot of weapons but the only thing they knew for sure was that Tress always traveled with a pistol and most likely two pistols,” the report said. “The confidential party warned law enforcement again to be safe, due to Tress’s comments that he would not go willingly with law enforcement, and it would most likely end in a violent confrontation once law enforcement contact was made.”

 Following an investigation of Tress’s Willow Flowage campsite by Oneida County deputies and wardens with the Department of Natural Resources, he was ultimately apprehended.

Subsequent searches of his boat and car yielded weapons and THC in his car, according to the report.

In her sentencing statement, Oneida County district attorney Jillian Pfeifer noted that potential threats involving statements about cutting off heads have to be taken seriously in this day and age “because you never know what individuals are capable of” but the underlying issue in this case was trauma related to Tress’s military service.

“The incident was isolated,” she noted, adding that Tress has sought treatment and is addressing his underlying mental health issues. 

As a result, she stated “a hefty fine” is an appropriate resolution.

Defense attorney Brian Bennett began his remarks by criticizing the law enforcement response to his client’s behavior.

“Quite frankly, law enforcement cranked it up to 11, broke out the SRT team, basically did a raid on a campsite,” he said.

He went on to detail Tress’s military service, which included flying helicopters in Somalia. He experienced significant trauma as a result of that experience and his arrest in this case prompted him to seek treatment, his attorney explained.

“It was him finally accepting that his disability was not a weakness, that his psychological trauma is not a weakness,” Bennett said.

Probation and jail time are not necessary under the circumstances, he added.

“We’re here to solve problems and the problem has been solved” as long as Tress continues to follow his treatment plan, Bennett said.

Given his chance to speak, Tress declined to address the court.

Overbey followed the joint recommendation of the attorneys and imposed a fine of $1,536. He also took some time to speak to Tress veteran to veteran.

“I understand what you did (in the military) and I understand where you did it,” he told Tress. “I have the utmost respect for that but, Mr. Tress, you’re not Rambo and when you do those kinds of things you reinforce a negative stereotype about veterans, you do a disservice to all of the people that have served and I have two kids that are serving right now. I know that was not your intent but that is just a fact.”

Overbey also stated he disagreed with Bennett’s statement about how law enforcement handled the situation.

“I would have done the same thing under the same circumstances,” he said.

As he concluded his remarks, Overbey noted he does 22 pushups every day in recognition of the fact that 22 veterans commit suicide every single day.

Finally, he suggested Tress could have an impact on others if he chooses to share his story.

“I need you to make a success story of your battle with PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) and then I need you to share it with other people,” he said.