GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – A Brown County man known nationally by the nickname “Uncle Fester” has accepted a plea deal in a major drug case tied to a 2023 raid at his Green Bay home.
Stephen Preisler appeared by Zoom from the Dodge County Jail Friday morning for a plea hearing in Brown County court.
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Preisler gained notoriety under the pen name “Uncle Fester” for writing books about methamphetamine manufacturing, explosives, poisons and chemicals, including the book Secrets of Methamphetamine Manufacture. He has also appeared in documentaries and on the Vice series Hamilton’s Pharmacopeia.
The case began in July 2023, when investigators raided Preisler’s South Baird Street home. Court documents say authorities found hundreds of grams of methamphetamine, cocaine, digital scales, packaging materials and chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine.
Preisler originally faced 10 felony counts, including possession with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine, maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of drug paraphernalia, possessing meth precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and felony bail jumping.
Court records show the original charges carried a possible sentence of more than 150 years in prison.
During Friday’s hearing, Preisler entered Alford pleas to two counts of possessing meth precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. An Alford plea means a defendant does not admit guilt but acknowledges prosecutors likely have enough evidence to convict at trial.
He also entered no contest pleas to several other charges, including possession with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of methamphetamine, maintaining a drug trafficking place, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony bail jumping.
Two charges — including a cocaine-related charge — were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
The court found Preisler guilty on six counts:
- Possession with intent to deliver more than 50 grams of methamphetamine
- Maintaining a drug trafficking place
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Felony bail jumping as a repeater
- Two counts of possessing meth precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine
Judge John Zakowski ordered a pre-sentence investigation, saying the large amount of records tied to the case will likely make the process take seven to eight weeks.
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Preisler is also still facing a separate civil lawsuit filed by the City of Green Bay, which seeks to have the South Baird Street property sold or razed as a public nuisance.
He is scheduled to be sentenced July 16 at 11 a.m.
