Court Report: December 17, 2025

Three individuals from New York were arrested and charged with felony fraud and felony misappropriation of ID after an incident at Ripco Credit Union Dec. 2.

Elizabeth Mewes, Xavier Cox and Glenn Ford Jr., all of New York, are currently being held in Vilas County Jail in connection with the crimes.

According to the criminal complaint, Mewes, 54, allegedly entered Ripco Credit Union around noon on Dec. 2 and requested to withdraw a sum of money for remodeling her home. She identified herself as the victim in the case, (referred to as S.M.B. in the complaint). After completing the first transaction of $9,830, Mewes asked staff at the credit union to perform another transaction for $6,230.

According to the complaint, Mewes became anxious and left the credit union after being asked more questions to confirm identity. Credit union staff called 911 to report the suspicious behavior.

Video surveillance footage indicates Mewes was then picked up by the co-defendants in the parking lot of Tractor Supply just after noon on Dec. 2. The complaint states that law enforcement was able to identify the vehicle as a 2026 Acura MDX in white with a New York state license plate, and that information was disseminated statewide in order to locate the vehicle.

The car the defendants were traveling in was spotted in Clark County while traveling on Highway 29, and a high-risk traffic stop was conducted. Mewes, Cox and Ford were arrested during the stop.

In an interview that took place Dec. 3 at the Clark County Jail, Mewes told Vilas County Detective Ryan Rossing she had handed the money to Ford and didn’t know where it was at the time of the interview.

Mewes appeared in Vilas County Circuit Court Dec. 4 for an initial appearance on one felony charge of fraud against a financial institution and one felony charge of misappropriation of ID to obtain money. She had a cash bond set for $400,000. The same conditions for Glenn Ford and Xavier Cox are listed for Mewes. An adjourned initial appearance was scheduled for Dec. 22 at 9 a.m.
Xavier Cox, 24, had a $100,000 cash bond set at an initial hearing on Dec. 4 in a case involving a felony charge of fraud against a financial institution, with a value exceeding $500 but not exceeding $10,000.

Bond conditions include having no contact with anyone involved in the case, including the co-defendants and witnesses, not leaving Wisconsin until a further court order, and confirmation of the address Cox will be living at, with written permission for him to live there. An adjourned initial hearing was scheduled for Dec. 22 at 9 a.m.

Glenn Ford, 23, appeared in custody from Clark County Jail, for an initial hearing on Dec. 4 on one felony charge of fraud against a financial institution, with a value exceeding $500 but not exceeding $10,000. He is also being charged with a felony of misappropriation of ID to obtain money. Ford’s cash bond was set at $250,000 with the same conditions as Xavier Cox and Elizabeth Mewes.

A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 19 at 8:30 a.m.

Shawn Briscoe, 37, of Eagle River, had a bond motion denied by Judge Martha Milanowski at an adjourned initial appearance last week in Vilas Court on one felony charge of first-degree Child Sex Assault- contact with person under 16-use of threat or force. Bond was continued in the case. Briscoe’s cash bond was set at $250,0000 with conditions at an initial hearing on Dec. 2. The alleged offense took place starting in January of 2012.

An adjourned initial appearance was scheduled for Jan. 5, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Prosecutors called Vilas County Sheriff’s Department’s Jacob Schleicher and provided testimony. Probable cause was found, and La Barge was bound over for arraignment. An arraignment hearing was scheduled for Jan. 6, 2026, at 8:45 a.m. The alleged offenses took place earlier this year on Aug. 16, 2025.

Raymond Vallier, 60, of Lac du Flambeau, appeared for a plea/sentencing hearing on one felony charge of sixth-offense OWI and one misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge.

Vallier pleaded guilty to the felony OWI charge, and the misdemeanor was dismissed, but read into the record for sentencing. The offense took place on May 14, 2024. The alleged offense happened on Aug. 15, 2025. Judge Daniel Overbey ordered three years and one month in the Wisconsin Prison System, including 13 months of confinement and 24 months (two years) of extended supervision. There was a three-year revocation period and three years of an IID. There is also a $1,800 fine plus court costs totaling $3,464. There are three days of presentence credit.

Austin Popenhagen, 24, of Neenah, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing to one felony charge of homicide by negligent operation/vehicle and one first-offense OWI forfeiture U violation. Bond was continued in the case. A judicial pretrial was set for Feb. 17, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. Both alleged offenses occurred on Aug. 15, 2025.

Adam Chandler, 35, of Mobile, Ala., pleaded guilty to one felony charge of possession of narcotic drugs. Judge Daniel Overbey ordered Chandler to six months in Vilas County Jail with 133 days of presentence credit. There are $518 in court costs and $5,200 in extradition costs, payable to the Clerk of Courts Office. The possession offense occurred on June 18, 2024.