SHAWANO, WI- Former campground owner Ann Retzlaff, who fled a traffic stop over two years ago, has reached a plea deal that resolves most of the criminal charges against her. The 54-year-old, former owner of Annie’s Campground in Gresham, faced a series of charges stemming from the traffic stop incident in May 2021. After deploying traffic stop spikes and arresting her on warrants, additional charges were filed due to her confrontational behavior with officers.
Retzlaff, who had previously identified as a “sovereign citizen” challenging police and court authority, pleaded “under extreme duress” and was sentenced to a year in jail with fines totaling $2,950. The plea deal addressed cases in Shawano and Menominee counties, with additional charges pending in Sauk County for filing improper personal liens. A trial for the Sauk County charges is scheduled for March 12.
While in custody, Retzlaff cited her father’s illness as a reason to resolve the cases, expressing a desire to take care of him. She emphasized the prolonged wait for justice and the potential for further delays with a jury trial. The judge acknowledged her acceptance of responsibility but highlighted that the case was about her actions rather than political beliefs.
The resolved cases included charges related to the original fleeing case, disorderly conduct, bail jumping, and failure to stop. Retzlaff received a one-year jail sentence, fines, and credit for time served. The judge commended her acceptance of responsibility but emphasized the importance of respecting law enforcement. Retzlaff must provide a DNA sample, and her driver’s license was suspended for six months. With good time credit, she is expected to be released sooner than the remaining sentence. If not resolved, a trial was scheduled to start the next day.
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