Man accused of domestic violence in Dayton

A domestic abuse complaint has resulted in a nine-count indictment.

Prosecutors charged Michael L. Pribnow, 42, Redgranite, with felony intimidation of a victim with a dangerous weapon, intimidation of a victim by damaging property, false imprisonment, fourth-degree sexual assault, misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property.

Pribnow also faces a fourth drunken driving charge and two counts of misdemeanor bail jumping.

On June 30, Waupaca County Deputies Paul Hanneman and John Stephens responded to a home alarm in the town of Dayton.

Officers spoke with a woman who said she activated the alarm because Pribnow had threatened her.

At the time of the incident, Pribnow was on a $1,000 signature bond following domestic abuse complaints on Nov. 24, 2020, and March 22, 2021. As a condition of the bond, the court prohibited Pribnow from having any contact with the woman.

According to the criminal complaint, the woman was asleep when Pribnow woke her up by standing over her and screaming at her.

The woman said Pribnow wanted her to go for a drive with him. She reluctantly agreed because she wanted him out of the house, away from the children.

She told the deputies that Pribnow began driving recklessly, speeding and going off the road.

She tried to exit the vehicle, but he grabbed her by the arm, the complaint says.

She said he threw her cell phone out the window.

The woman broke free, got out of the vehicle and fell into a ditch.

She accused Pribnow of hitting her, then holding her in a headlock as he tried to force her back into his truck.

She was able to get away and return home.

Night of terror

The woman said Pribnow followed her home and threw things around, breaking them.

She said Pribnow swung an axe into the wall, knocking a hole in it.

She also accused Pribnow of telling her that if she called the police he would kill her, while holding an unloaded .44-caliber handgun.

She said he sexually assaulted her by ripping her shirt and saying, “You are still my wife. I will do whatever I want.”

When she activated the home alarm, Pribnow allegedly smashed the unit and left the house in her Ford Escape.

Stephens reported finding a .44-caliber handgun, holes in the wall, the axe, a broken tablet, a broken TV, a ripped shirt and a broken door knob.

The woman had marks on her arm, leg and chest.

As Hanneman was driving away, he saw a Ford Escape traveling eastbound on Crystal Lake Road.

After dispatch confirmed the vehicle was registered to the victim, Hanneman pulled it over and identified the driver as Pribnow.

When questioned about the incident, Pribnow admitted to breaking the TV and punching holes in the wall. He denied using the axe.

Hanneman reported smelling alcohol. A preliminary breath test indicated that Pribnow had a 0.11 blood-alcohol content.

Due to three prior drunken driving convictions, Pribnow is restricted to a 0.02 BAC.

On July 6, Pribnow was released from custody after posting a $10,000 cash bond. A condition of the bond was that he have no contact, directly or indirectly with the victim.
That same day, Pribnow allegedly attempted to reach her by phone.

On July 7, he was charged with felony and misdemeanor bail jumping and released after posting a $2,000 cash bond.