A former University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Association member was charged with two criminal misdemeanors on Tuesday, Oct. 25, for two separate incidents that occurred in September.

Christopher Brown, 22, faces a maximum fine of $10,000 or up to nine months in jail if he is found guilty.

The first charge, criminal damage to property, was filed after an SA outing at the Milwaukee County Zoo on Sept. 24. Brown allegedly vandalized an Enterprise van after he was terminated as SA legislature affairs director. The $1,300 in damage was caused to the van’s steering column and console, Cory Wesell, Enterprise loss control specialist, said in an Oct. 5 Post story.

One incident report from a witness at the outing recalled that Brown used profanities aimed at SA Chief of Staff Samantha Prahl, who in turn relieved Brown from his duties.

SA Communications Director Robert Stueber declined to comment specifically about the case, but said, “As with any other case, everybody is innocent until proven guilty.”

Brown also faces a second charge for theft of a movable object equaling less than $2,500. Brown allegedly stole 2,000 issues of the Sept. 28 newspaper edition of The Leader because of the article “SA official investigated for vandalism after firing,” which reported Brown’s termination. Although Joe Ahlers, news editor of The Leader, recovered about 1,500 issues that were thrown out, some of them were destroyed with water.

Ahlers is not seeking any civil action against Brown at this time, but is happy to see that charges were filed.

“Hopefully this won’t ever happen again,” Ahlers said. “If it does, we may decide to follow through with a civil suit. As of right now, it is not feasible, as legal costs would exceed the cost of the damage.”

Brown is scheduled for a pre-trial conference at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. The district attorney’s office declined to comment.

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