Mike Leischner

Wausau

News Director at WSAU-AM (Wausau , WI)

News director at @WSAU, baseball, football, and soccer fan. God uncle to 4, uncle to 4, big brother to 2, cat dad to 1. Romans 5 1-5.

Articles

Mason Reaches Plea Deal on Attempted Homicide Charge

6 days ago | wsau.com | Mike Leischner

WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A Wausau man accused of shooting another individual in the abdomen during an argument has pleaded no contest to one charge of attempted homicide, avoiding a June trial. Richard Mason was scheduled for a pretrial conference on Friday, which was switched to a plea hearing at the last minute. The sides then agreed to drop the use of a dangerous weapon modifier from the count and dismissed a misdemeanor charge for carrying a concealed weapon.
Marathon County Woman Sentenced to Federal Prison on Meth Charges

1 week ago | wsau.com | Mike Leischner

MADISON, WI (WSAU) — A Weston woman will serve six years in federal prison for federal methamphetamine charges after she was caught withMercadys A. Perkins was sentenced on Thursday in the US District Court in Madison. Investigators say she was the leader of a distribution ring operating in the Wausau area. Officers raided her home in Weston, turning up more than 300 grams of the drug and $2,000 in cash. Drug ledgers and other drug trafficking tools were also present.
Elaborate Scam Targets Stevens Point Residents

1 week ago | wsau.com | Mike Leischner

STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — Scammers continue to change up their game to get your money. The Stevens Point Police Department says one resident recently received a fake invoice for services from the Planning and Zoning Commission. They asked for a wire transfer of nearly $5,000 for application review, on-site inspection, and contract staff payment. The invoice called for the payments to be transferred immediately.
Bradyn’s Law Reffered to Committee with Bipartisan Support

1 week ago | wsau.com | Mike Leischner

MADISON, WI (WSAU) — A proposal to increase penalties for sextortion, or coaxing intimate images out of someone, then using them for blackmail, has been referred to the Assembly’s Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety. Bradyn’s Law, also known as Assembly Bill 201, was read in the committee on Wednesday. It would allow felony homicide charges to be brought forward if someone commits suicide as part of a sextortion scheme.
Crandall Trial Rescheduled for Spring 2026

1 week ago | wsau.com | Mike Leischner

WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The man accused of putting a bounty on the head of Christian Schauer before he was killed will go to trial six years later. Investigators say Steven Crandall offered a $5,000 reward for Schauer’s body because the 20-year-old had stolen some prescription pills that he had intended to sell. Crandall said he arranged the hit through an acquaintance and paid after he saw pictures of Schauer’s body. The 27-year-old will face a week-long jury trial from March 9th to the 13th, 2026.
Change of Venue Request Denied for Peters-Berger

1 week ago | wsau.com | Mike Leischner

CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI (WSAU) — A change of venue request for the homicide case against Carson Peters-Berger has been denied.
Wausau Man Accused of 4th OWI on Highway 51

1 week ago | wsau.com | Mike Leischner

RIB MOUNTAIN, WI (WSAU) — A Wausau man is accused of his 4th OWI after he was caught going north in the southbound lanes of US 51 in Rib Mountain in late March. Officers were already investigating an unrelated crash in the southbound lanes when a northbound vehicle approached them. When deputies caught up to the driver, identified as Adam Clifton, he said he had left his home and was heading back to his home.
Greater Wausau Chamber Warns of Potental Scam

1 week ago | wsau.com | Mike Leischner

WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Officials with the Greater Wausau Chamber of Commerce say they’ve been made aware of a potential scam involving its members. Some local businesses say they’ve been contacted by a third party selling “event attendance or membership data related to our Chamber.”Marketing Director Brian Otten says the chamber does not sanction third parties to sell or distribute such data.
AG Kaul, Assemblyman Snyder Hold Roundtable on Victim Services Funding

1 week ago | wsau.com | Mike Leischner

WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and State Representative Pat Snyder headlined a roundtable discussion on Tuesday regarding victim services funding at The Women’s Community in Wausau. The discussion centered on the need for continued funding from the Victim of Crime Act (VOCA), which Kaul said has declined in recent years. “The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which administers VOCA, was able to distribute $44 million per year.
GoFundMe Estalbished for Taylor County Homicide Victims

1 week ago | wdez.com | Mike Leischner

GILMAN, WI (WSAU) — A GoFundMe has been established for the family of Becky and Joshua Mann, the victims of last week’s Taylor County homicide. The couple had four children, aged 16 to 25, who “face a future without their guiding presence. The family needs resources in place for this period while the investigation and transition are ongoing,” according to the fundraiser. Organizers had hoped to bring in nearly $30,000. As of Monday afternoon, they have more than doubled that.