South Milwaukee elementary school teacher on unpaid leave after drugs seized from her home; charges filed

RACINE COUNTY -- A South Milwaukee elementary school teacher is on unpaid administrative leave from Lakeview Elementary School after a search warrant was executed at her home in Caledonia -- and drug charges were filed against the teacher and her husband.

The accused in this case are 45-year-old James Wendt Jr. of Racine and 43-year-old Tracy Wendt of Racine.

The superintendent of the South Milwaukee School District tells FOX6 News Tracy Wendt was hired as a teacher with the district in 2007.

Lakeview Elementary School in South Milwaukee

James Wendt Jr.

James Wendt Jr. faces the following charges:

Tracy Wendt

Tracy Wendt faces the following charges:

According to a criminal complaint filed in this case, on August 4th, a search warrant was executed at a home on Eagle Point Drive in Caledonia, located within 1,000 feet of Johnson Park.

Lakeview Elementary School in South Milwaukee

That search revealed the following items, according to the complaint:

The complaint makes reference to the types of THC discovered: Grape Ape, Dutch Girl Caramel Waffle, Dragon Caviar sticks, WANA Sour Watermelon gummies with THC, Lightshade and Sativa Cheeba Chews.

Investigators spoke with James Wendt, who indicated all of the drugs in the home were his. Tracy Wendt said they were in debt, and a year ago, "an opportunity presented itself" to sell marijuana, and James Wendt took that opportunity. The Wendt's son said he "stays out of it," but said he believes his father only sells to family members and friends.

Police spoke with an individual who advised that James Wendt would bag the THC, and then place it in a bucket in the garage. Whomever was purchasing the marijuana would leave the money in the bucket. This person advised that Wendt was recently robbed of "lots" of weed, and Wendt purchased a hunting camera for the garage.

According to the complaint, this individual told investigators after the search warrant was executed, this person received a threatening phone call from Tracy Wendt, who told him to "watch his back," and that "if he ever goes to jail, she hopes he gets put in the same cell as James Wendt," stating that "he did not know what he had just gotten into."

James and Tracy Wendt made their initial appearances in court in this case on August 8th. Probable cause was found for further proceedings and cash bond was set at $10,000. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for August 17th.