Court Report: January 28, 2026

Tomahawk man found guilty at jury trial

Ivan Scharbrough, 46, of Tomahawk, was found guilty of one felony charge of interfering with custody, beyond visitation, at a two-day jury trial last week in Vilas County Court.

Through two days of testimony from both prosecutor witnesses and Scharbrough, a guilty verdict was read. Scharbrough was remanded to Vilas County Jail, and Judge Martha Milanowski ordered a presentence investigation.

A sentencing hearing for this case was scheduled for April 6 at 2 p.m.

Kelli St. Germaine, 34, of Lac du Flambeau, appeared for a judicial pretrial on one felony charge of possession with intent of fentanyl. Prosecutors and the defense updated the court on the case. A plea/sentencing was put on the calendar for Feb. 16 at 3 p.m.

Joseph Beard, 30, of Woodruff, pleaded not guilty to one felony charge of taking and driving a vehicle without consent at an arraignment hearing last week. Beard requested a speedy trial, which was put on the calendar for Feb. 23 at 8:15 a.m. A judicial pretrial was scheduled for Feb. 6 at 10:15 a.m., and a final pretrial was scheduled for Feb. 11 at 8:30 a.m.

Michael Black, 57, of Woodruff, pleaded guilty and was sentenced at a plea/sentencing hearing on one felony charge of possession with intent of cocaine. Judge Martha Milanowski sentenced Black to seven years in the Wisconsin Prison System, which includes three years of confinement and four years of extended supervision. There are 129 days of presentence credit, and the sentence is concurrent with anything he is currently serving.