Wednesday, September 18, 2024
By Robert Cloud
A former Waupaca County assistant district attorney is accused of threatening a judge and a prosecutor.
Benjamin R. Szilagyi, 42, Oshkosh, faces two felony counts related to the incidents.
On July 15, a circuit court judge informed Waupaca County Detective Sgt. David Rogers that Szilagyi made threatening comments in a text message sent via his phone.
According to the criminal complaint, the text said, “I feel it’s fair to let you know that you are on my [expletive} list. If I hear you name again you’re gonna be sorry. Have a nice life.”
The complaint did not identify which of Waupaca County’s three judges received the text. It also does not identify the prosecutor who was allegedly threatened.
The judge told Rogers that during a hearing on July 1 they had “called out Benjamin for not being prepared.”
Szilagyi reportedly sent the text to the judge shortly before 3:30 p.m. that same day.
A prosecutor with the Waupaca County District Attorney’s Office reported receiving a phone call from Szilagyi shortly before 1 p.m. on July 10.
According to the complaint, “The moment they answered, Benjamin ‘began shouting in a very loud and forceful voice at me. He stated that I should keep his name out of my mouth or things are going to get a hell of a lot worse for me.’”
Charges were filed and Judge Raymond Huber authorized an arrest warrant on July 15.
Szilagyi was arrested in Cook County, Illinois, on July 16.
He is currently in custody at the Waupaca County jail.
Scilagyi has not appeared in court on these felony charges yet. No court dates have been scheduled, according to online court records.
He has been an assistant district attorney in Waupaca County since January 2023.
On July 11, Szilagyi’s wife filed for divorce in Winnebago County.
