Officer, Informant, and the Drug Bust: The Connor Newman Case Heads to Trial in Price County

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By Price County Fun Staff | June 2, 2026

On Monday, June 1, former Phillips police officer Connor R. For context on court system handling 174 cases in a week, see our related investigation. Newman stood before Judge Mark T. Fuhr in Price County Circuit Court and entered a not guilty plea on all counts: three Class I felonies for misconduct in public office and one misdemeanor for resisting or obstructing an officer. A jury trial was demanded. A status conference is set for July 15.

Eight months after the story first broke across Northwoods television screens, the case against Newman has moved from criminal complaint to preliminary hearing to formal arraignment. But the full scope of what happened between March and August 2025. What it may mean for the nine people swept up in a separate drug investigation that same summer. It is only now coming into focus.

What Newman Is Charged With

According to Price County Circuit Court records (Case No. 2025CF000131), Newman faces three felony counts of misconduct in public office under Wisconsin Statute §946.12, each carrying a maximum penalty of 3.5 years imprisonment and a $10,000 fine:

  • Count 1 — Excess Authority (§946.12(2)): Newman allegedly engaged in sex acts with a woman while on duty and in uniform, exercising powers of his office in a manner he knew was not authorized.
  • Count 2 — Inconsistent Duty (§946.12(3)): Newman allegedly leaked drug investigation intelligence to the same woman, exercising discretionary authority in a manner inconsistent with his duties: specifically, the duty to safeguard confidential law enforcement information.
  • Count 3 . Falsifying Records (§946.12(4)): Newman allegedly falsified his Daily Activity Report, omitting visits to the woman’s address on July 2–3, July 17–18, July 26–27, and July 30–31, 2025.

A fourth count charges Newman with misdemeanor resisting or obstructing an officer under §946.41(1), carrying a maximum of 9 months imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.

If convicted on all counts, Newman faces a maximum exposure of approximately 10.5 years in prison and $40,000 in fines.

The Alleged Misconduct, According to the Criminal Complaint

Newman, 31, of Harshaw, was hired by the Phillips Police Department in March 2025. He had previously worked as a dispatcher and deputy at the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and at the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office, and is a graduate of the Nicolet College Law Enforcement Academy.

According to the criminal complaint, as reported by WJFW on October 7, 2025, the alleged misconduct took place over roughly one month, from early July through early August 2025. The complaint details the following allegations:

  • Newman engaged in repeated sexual contact with a woman, identified in multiple news reports as Vanessa Faye Godfrey, age 40, while on duty and in uniform.
  • Godfrey was a known methamphetamine user. She was one of nine people arrested in a joint Price County Sheriff’s Office and Phillips Police Department drug sweep on July 9, 2025.
  • Newman knowingly falsified his Daily Activity Report, omitting his visits to Godfrey’s address on at least four separate two-day spans in July 2025.
  • Newman turned off his computer to hide his location from dispatch.
  • Newman alerted Godfrey to the presence of his body-worn camera when responding to calls at her address.
  • On July 30–31, a patrol deputy discovered Newman’s squad vehicle parked outside Godfrey’s address. When dispatch conducted a status check, Newman did not answer on the radio. Investigators knocked on the door; Godfrey’s roommate answered and confirmed an officer was present. Newman eventually came outside after dispatch directed him to do so.
  • During a recorded interview, Newman admitted to the sexual encounters while on duty.

Perhaps the most serious allegation beyond the sexual misconduct itself: a witness told investigators that Godfrey learned from Newman about a confidential informant who was wearing a wire “to get them all in trouble,” a direct reference to the ongoing drug investigation. That intelligence, the complaint suggests, was then passed by Godfrey to others.

The Drug Bust Connection

This is where the Newman case extends beyond one officer’s misconduct and into the integrity of a multi-agency drug prosecution.

On March 20, 2025, the same month Newman was hired by Phillips PD, the Price County Sheriff’s Office and the Phillips Police Department launched a joint drug distribution investigation. Over the next several months, investigators executed search warrants in and around the city of Phillips.

On July 9, 2025, nine people were arrested in what WSAW described as a major drug bust. According to the Price County Sheriff’s Office, the defendants and their charges included:

  • Vanessa F. Godfrey, 40 . Two counts delivery of methamphetamine (0–3g) as party to a crime; three counts maintain a drug trafficking place as party to a crime; 12 counts felony bail jumping. Court records show Godfrey has 41 total entries across four Wisconsin counties.
  • Benjamin L. Krueger, 44 . Three counts delivery of methamphetamine; one count delivery as party to a crime; three counts maintain a drug trafficking place as party to a crime; eight counts felony bail jumping.
  • Samuel A. Williams, 44 . Two counts delivery of methamphetamine (10–50g and 0–3g); possession with intent to distribute THC near a city park; multiple possession counts; eight counts felony bail jumping.
  • William R. Cantrell Sr., 55 . Two counts delivery of methamphetamine; possession of methamphetamine; habitual criminal enhancer.
  • William R. Cantrell Jr., 34 . Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine; delivery of methamphetamine; two counts maintain a drug trafficking place; four counts felony bail jumping; two counts manufacture/deliver THC.
  • Donald J. Zimmermann, 56 . Possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine (10–50g); multiple THC and paraphernalia charges; two counts neglecting a child.
  • Karen L. Zimmermann, 54 . Possession of THC; maintain a drug trafficking place; drug paraphernalia; two counts neglecting a child.
  • Bradley K. Vasa, 57 . Two counts manufacture/deliver THC; two counts maintain a drug trafficking place; possession with intent to distribute THC.
  • Nichole A. Vanhoozen, 50 . Possession of methamphetamine as a repeater; possession of drug paraphernalia.

Godfrey’s arrest came just nine days before Newman’s misconduct came to light. According to the criminal complaint, Newman was leaking drug investigation intelligence to Godfrey during the same period he was having sexual contact with her, intelligence that Godfrey then shared with others. The question of whether that leak compromised the prosecution of any of the nine defendants remains an open one.

The Price County court calendar for the first week of June 2026 shows that several of the drug bust defendants are still actively in court:

  • Benjamin L. Krueger has four status conferences scheduled for June 3.
  • William R. Cantrell Jr. faces proceedings across three criminal cases on June 4–5, including a preliminary hearing.
  • William R. Cantrell Sr. has two status conferences and a preliminary hearing on June 5.
  • Donald D. Griffith has four plea and sentencing hearings on June 3.
  • Vanessa F. Godfrey has three felony motion hearings scheduled for June 3 at the Taylor County Courthouse.

The investigation was described as ongoing at the time of the July 2025 arrests, with the Price County Sheriff’s Office stating that more arrests or charges were possible.

A Court Case That Took Its Time

The path from alleged misconduct to arraignment spanned nearly 10 months, marked by delays, a change in defense counsel, and a preliminary hearing that required two sessions to complete.

Court records provided to Price County Fun document the following timeline in Case 2025CF000131:

  • August 4, 2025: Bail/bond hearing. Newman appeared by video from the Price County Jail. Assistant District Attorney Ian Mickelson appeared in person. Bond was set at $1,000 signature, with conditions that Newman have no contact with two individuals identified by initials C.M.M. and J.H.W.
  • October 3, 2025: Criminal complaint filed.
  • October 7, 2025: Initial appearance. Newman expressed his wish to obtain counsel. A preliminary hearing was requested.
  • October 29, 2025: Peter J. Nickitas, Esq., filed his appearance as retained defense counsel. Newman is not represented by a public defender.
  • November 19, 2025: A motion in limine was filed by Judge Fuhr.
  • January 20, 2026: Preliminary hearing began but was adjourned due to technical issues. Investigator Dylan Scheller was called as a witness by the State. The defense moved to modify bond conditions; the motion was denied.
  • March 20, 2026: Preliminary hearing resumed and completed. Scheller testified. A defense witness, Crystal Mangert, was called. During her testimony, Judge Fuhr instructed Mangert to “answer the question and not add other information.” Judge Fuhr found probable cause on all counts and bound the case over for trial.
  • June 1, 2026: Arraignment. Newman appeared in person. Nickitas appeared by video. Special prosecutor Kristi S. Tlusty appeared by video. Newman entered a not guilty plea on all counts. A jury trial was demanded. A status conference was scheduled for July 15, 2026, at 11:30 a.m.

The appointment of Tlusty as special prosecutor, an attorney from outside Price County, reflects a conflict of interest with the local district attorney’s office, which had been involved in the same drug investigation that Newman is accused of compromising.

Oneida County: A Separate Case

Newman’s legal troubles did not end at the Price County line. On December 4, 2025, he was charged in Oneida County (Case 2025CF000389) with felony lottery ticket forgery and felony bail jumping, according to the Star Journal.

Court records indicate Newman allegedly stole approximately $1,300 in scratch-off lottery tickets from a convenience store where he worked after leaving the Phillips Police Department. The forgery charge is a Class I felony; the bail jumping charge is a Class H felony. Judge Mary Sowinski set a $2,000 signature bond. Notably, Newman appeared at his Oneida County hearing without legal representation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Connor Newman?

Connor R. Newman is a former Phillips police officer who was charged in 2025 with three felony counts of misconduct in public office, related to allegedly leaking confidential drug investigation information to a woman he was involved with and then falsifying records to cover it up.

What charges does Connor Newman face?

Newman faces three felony counts under Wis. Stat. §946.12: Count 1 (§946.12(1)) for failing to prevent the release of confidential investigation information; Count 2 (§946.12(3)) for exercising discretionary authority in a manner inconsistent with his duties; and Count 3 (§946.12(4)) for falsifying his Daily Activity Report by omitting visits to the woman’s address.

What is the connection between Newman and Brian Godfrey?

Brian A. Godfrey, a former Price County Sheriff’s deputy, was arrested in the same 9-person drug bust in February 2025. Both Newman and Godfrey were charged in connection with the same investigation, though their charges differ. Newman’s charges relate to leaking information to a woman he was involved with; Godfrey’s charges relate to drug trafficking.

What happens next in the Newman case?

Newman entered a not guilty plea on June 2, 2026. The case has been assigned a special prosecutor from Marathon County. A status conference is scheduled, and the case will proceed toward trial unless a plea agreement is reached.

What is a confidential informant in Wisconsin drug cases?

A confidential informant (CI) is someone who cooperates with law enforcement in exchange for consideration in their own criminal case. Wisconsin has no statewide policy governing CI use. The Newman case raises questions about how CI identities were handled and whether proper protocols were followed.

What Happens Next

With the arraignment complete, the Newman case enters the pretrial phase. The next court date is a status conference on July 15, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. before Judge Fuhr in Price County Circuit Court, Branch 1.

Several questions remain unresolved:

  • The drug investigation leak: Will the prosecution of any of the nine drug bust defendants be affected by Newman’s alleged disclosure of confidential informant information? Defense attorneys in those cases may seek to challenge evidence or negotiate more favorable plea agreements based on the compromised intelligence.
  • The scope of the investigation: The criminal complaint references a witness who stated that Godfrey learned about the wired informant from Newman and passed that information to others. Whether those who received the information face additional exposure, or whether their defense attorneys can use the leak to their clients’ advantage is an open question.
  • Newman’s defense: Peter Nickitas is a private retained attorney, not a public defender, suggesting Newman has resources to mount a vigorous defense. A jury trial demand has been entered. No trial date has been set.

For Price County residents, the Newman case is a reminder that the same small police department that helped bring down a drug distribution network in July 2025 also employed an officer who allegedly undermined that investigation from within. The two stories, the drug bust and the officer’s misconduct, have always been connected. Now they are on a collision course in open court.

Price County Fun will continue to cover this case as it develops. The next scheduled proceeding is a status conference on July 15, 2026.

Sources

Reporting by the Price County Fun Editorial Team. Last updated June 01, 2026. If you have information about this story, contact us at [email protected].

See also: our guide to free camping in Wisconsin and our guide to Price County public records





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