Criminal charges have been field against a man accused of threatening a district attorney. It happened in Polk County, in northwestern Wisconsin. D.A. Dan Steffen related details of voicemail messages recieved by his office: "a threat of 'I better watch my back . . . payback is gonna suck for you.'"
Steffen says he recognized the voice as that of Steve Hart, a Boyceville man charged with sexual assault. Steffen says he took the threats — also made via e-mail and by letter — as serious. "One voicemail says 'things are going to get exciting around there,' said Steffen. "I frankly at that point was very concerned about what might be happening." Steffen said Hart is "obviously upset," about being prosecuted, and he worried about what Hart might to him, his family or his staff. Hart is now charged with stalking and making threats.