Bond reduced for Michigan man accused of threatening judge, newspaper publisher

A Michigan man accused of making threats against an Oneida County judge and a newspaper publisher is free after posting $2,000 in cash.

Court records show Peter Thomas Gruich was released from custody on Tuesday after Judge Leon Stenz of Forest County agreed to reduce his bond from $40,000 to $2,000 cash.

In arguing for the bond reduction, defense attorney Brian Bennett noted that Gruich has been incarcerated for 60 days and is “regretting some choices that he made in the past relative to this case.”

Specifically, Bennett said his client regrets any contact with Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad or anyone associated with him.

“He’s deeply remorseful and wishes to get this thing moving forward,” he added.

While some cash is appropriate under the circumstances, Bennett argued $40,000 is excessive. He also noted that Gruich, who is retired from the auto industry, has limited financial means but could post $1,000 to $2,000.

District attorney Jillian Pfeifer did not oppose the defense request.

She argued that some cash is necessary but stated she would leave the dollar amount to the court’s discretion.

After asking Gruich for more information as to his income, Stenz agreed to modify bond to $2,000. As conditions of bond, he may not possess weapons or use social media. 

Bennett indicated his client’s intent is to return to Michigan.

A preliminary hearing is to be scheduled at a later date.

Gruich is charged with threatening injury or harm via computer message, a misdemeanor, and making a threat to a judge, a felony, 

Oneida County judge Michael Schiek and Lakeland Times/River News publisher Gregg Walker were the recipients of threatening messages sent by Gruich, the criminal complaint alleges.

According to the complaint, the incidents began on October 17, 2024, when Walker received a threatening email and reported it to the sheriff’s office.

The content of the message read: “Hey punk, it would be a shame if your ‘newspaper’ burned down or if your local pigs stated [sic] getting killed, wouldn’t it? You and your police chief need a big lawsuit you f—-g punk. F—k you, Pete Gruich Nazi Killer.”

The complaint also references an email received by Oneida County Clerk Tracy Hartman on Tuesday, October 22. The subject header was: “I am thinking of financing a lawsuit against your Nazi judge and cops that need yo [sic] be killed.”

According to the complaint, the message of the email was: “Hey a—e, I like suing corrupt p—-y judges and cops that need to be killed. Does that bother you or those f——g a—-s that you work for? F—k you, Pete Gruich Nazi Killer.”

The complaint goes on to note that the message was sent one day after Bangstad made his initial appearance before Schiek on criminal defamation charges. 

Bangstad is accused of publishing a Facebook post that included a false and manipulated image of Walker and Times/River News general manager Heather Holmes. In late 2024, Bangstad also settled the largest defamation case in Wisconsin history by agreeing to a payout of more than half-million dollars in a case in which a jury found that Bangstad had defamed Walker with express malice.

According to the complaint, Gruich told investigators that news of Bangstad’s arrest in the criminal defamation case caused him to get “worked up.”

He also told investigators he was disgusted with himself for sending the emails and had no intention of acting on the threats.

If convicted of threatening a judge, Gruich faces a maximum sentence of 6 years in prison. The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum sentence of 90 days in jail. 

Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].