One of two men accused of bringing guns and drugs to Homestead High School pleads guilty
One of two Sturgeon Bay men accused of bringing a cache of guns and drugs to Homestead High School earlier this year has pleaded guilty to three crimes linked to the incident.
Court records show 20-year-old Benjamin Krohn entered his pleas during a Sept. 13 hearing in Ozaukee County Circuit Court. He's scheduled to be sentenced Nov. 26.
Krohn pleaded guilty to illegally carrying a concealed weapon, a misdemeanor, felony possession of a firearm on school grounds and misdemeanor possession of THC.
He was originally facing 14 charges, the remaining 11 of which were dismissed but read in to the court record as part of a plea agreement.
According to a criminal complaint, police discovered Krohn and 20-year-old Willard Hartman were carrying guns and drugs shortly after an officer pulled over Hartman for making an illegal U-turn at West Mequon Road and North River Trail just after leaving Homestead High School.
The officer reportedly smelled marijuana while speaking with Krohn and Hartman, and subsequently searched Hartman's car, in which he found five guns — three assault-style rifles and two handguns — all but one with loaded magazines.
The complaint did not specify whether the men brought the guns into the school with them.
Krohn, who said the guns belonged to him, told police he and Hartman were at the school watching a basketball game. He said in the complaint that he brought the guns "in case he wanted to trade or sell them to someone."
Police also found marijuana and oxycodone inside a duffel bag and a backpack in the car, according to the complaint.
Court records indicate Hartman is scheduled to appear before a judge for a plea and sentencing hearing on Oct. 4. He's facing 11 charges.