Former Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer's trial postponed
MILWAUKEE - The real estate fraud trial of former Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer is on hold.
One man, three cases
In court:
Waukesha County Judge Ralph Ramirez, who was assigned to hear the case filed in Milwaukee County, postponed the trial, so prosecutors can work to consolidate three separate cases against Spencer into one.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
Spencer, 69, was in court Friday for both a jury status hearing in that case and an initial appearance in a felony bail jumping case filed against him earlier this month. In a third case, court records show Spencer is still scheduled to go to trial in July for felony misconduct in office and misdemeanor obstructing an officer.
William Sulton, Spencer's defense attorney, denies all charges and claims Spencer did not break his bond conditions.
Tearman Spencer
Misconduct case
The backstory:
According to a criminal complaint, the district attorney's office found Spencer used discretionary power when he was the city attorney to prevent the city's client, the Department of Neighborhood Services, from performing inspections and assessments on a property where he stored cars.
Specifically, Spencer is accused of directing city attorney's office staff and resources to the property to avoid fees and repairs on required Department of Neighborhood Services inspections that totaled thousands of dollars.
Prosecutors said Spencer also "misled" investigators about the use of resources for his personal benefit while also admitting that he directed city attorney resources for his personal benefit – and contrary to the office's client, the Department of Neighborhood Services. The city attorney's office would be tasked with representing DNS in court.
Real estate fraud
The backstory:
A little more than a year after charging Spencer with misconduct, the district attorney's office accused him of crimes that happened outside his work as the city attorney.
Prosecutors said Spencer and a co-defendant illegally bought a Milwaukee home for $8,000, then listed it for $245,000. They two "allegedly misrepresented the value of the property to [the seller], convincing him that it was worth only $8,000. In reality, the property was valued significantly higher."
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
The district attorney's office also accuses Spencer of money laundering and receiving stolen property from the home, because the person who sold the home did not have the right to do that – it was one of the children of the deceased owner.
Spencer's co-defendant in the case, Kennard Wragg, pleaded not guilty to three felony charges and was bound over for trial in April. He's due back in court in June.
Bail jumping
The backstory:
The bail jumping charge was filed on May 19. Prosecutors accuse Spencer of violating a no-contact order when he left a voicemail for an attorney who was a key witness in the real estate fraud case.
Court filings said the district attorney's office interpreted the voicemail as a "veiled bribe" trying to buy the witness' silence with a lucrative business deal.
The court had a strict order in place: Spencer was to have zero contact with an attorney who was a key witness for the state. Spencer's attorney said he planned to file a motion to dismiss the charge, arguing it was improperly filed.
The Source: Information in this story is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office, Wisconsin Circuit Court and prior FOX6 News coverage of the cases involving Spencer.
Oconomowoc shots fired over missing cats, man charged: prosecutors
Prosecutors charged an Oconomowoc man with misdemeanors Monday after police say he fired two gunshots into his neighborhood.
Milwaukee weather: Another great Tuesday then rainy
Clear and cool tonight with a chance of patchy fog. Another warm Tuesday with increasing clouds, then rainy both Wednesday and Thursday.
UWM Waukesha campus, Habitat plans 20 new homes
A Wisconsin Habitat for Humanity affiliate and a Milwaukee-based real estate company have partnered together to build 20 homes on the former University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Waukesha campus.
Kenosha bar homicide, police shooting; man charged
A Milwaukee man is accused of killing a man inside a Kenosha bar before getting into a shootout with police on Sunday night, Sept. 20.
Milwaukee County Zoo steam trains; where you can see them
The steam trains are no longer at the Milwaukee County Zoo; they've been replaced by non-steamers. But you can see the original steam engines by hitting the road and heading for Wisconsin Dells. Jim Schulz is with Riverside & Great Northern Preservation Society, and joined FOX6 NOW to explain.
Milwaukee Weather: Dense fog overnight, warmer on Tuesday
Clear skies tonight with dense fog developing overnight. Temperatures will drop through the 60s and settle in the 50s overnight. Partly sunny, breezy and warm on Tuesday. Highs in the mid-70s with a gusty south wind. Rain moves in overnight Tuesday night. It will be pretty rainy on Wednesday and Thursday with over 0.50" of rain possible. Highs in the 60s mid-week.
Terrorist drug lord known as 'The Spider' extradited to US
An alleged drug lord and terrorist was extradited to California on Monday and faces several charges tied to his involvement with a Columbian paramilitary organization.
Trump announces new Iowa steel mill expected to be largest in US
A proposed $15 billion steel plant in eastern Iowa promises to be the largest one in the United States when it opens in 2030. President Donald Trump announced the project from the White House on Monday afternoon, explaining that the project will help protect national security.
FOX6 News at 5 | Sept. 27, 2026
FOX6 News delivers the latest headlines, weather and more.
Pain at the gas pump, could it be easing?
You may have noticed that the price for a gallon of gasoline has fallen ever so slightly in the last few days. Does this mean we'll see this trend continue? Patrick De Haan from Gas Buddy joined FOX6 NOW to talk about the latest numbers.