Racine man pleads not guilty to death threats, assault

Published 11:05 am Friday, May 11, 2012

A Racine man who allegedly assaulted a teenager and threatened to kill several people in his home pleaded not guilty Thursday to four felony charges.

Ronald Richard Kohler, 42, pleaded not guilty to one count of domestic assault, and three counts of terroristic threats.

Mower County Sheriff’s deputies went to the 300 block of First Street in Racine on April 26 when they allegedly received a call that Ronald Richard Kohler, 42, was violent and making threats. Deputies found the victims in a car outside, went into the home and subdued Kohler at gun and taser point. According to the complaint, Kohler was very verbal but did not resist arrest. At one point, Kohler was seeking the teenage boy and said, “I’m going to kill you boy,” the complaint states.

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According to the victims, Kohler repeatedly made remarks about killing them and choked the boy until another one of the victims helped push Kohler away, the complaint states. The boy said he was not hurt, however.

The complaint states that Kohler was off of his medications and had roughly 14 beers that night. Kohler admitted to choking the boy and told deputies, “It’s my fault,” the complaint adds.

Kohler has demanded a speedy trial, and another court date has not yet been set, according to the Minnesota Courts system.