A 26-year-old Kenosha man made numerous phone calls to a business in the village, violating a no-contact order in effect until 2021, Caledonia Police say.
Lawrence Ratliff was charged Wednesday by the Racine County District Attorney‘s office with 19 misdemeanor counts of violating an injunction – harassment. If convicted, he could get 14 years, three months in prison and/or pay $190,000 in fines.
According to the criminal complaint, Caledonia police were called in August to a business by an employee who said Ratliff called 19 times between July 22 and July 26, 2017. The employee told officers another worker has an injunction against Ratliff good through 2021. The injunction prohibits him from having any contact with that person’s residence, work, or school, and that he cannot contact them in public places or by using the phone, in writing or by using any electronic devices.
Police say the employee furnished them with a list of the phone calls and the number from which the calls initiated. They made contact with the Kenosha Police Department who attempted to locate Ratliff, but he wasn’t at home.
Online court records indicate a $3,000 warrant was issued in August for his arrest and that he is now being held at the Racine County Jail on a $250 cash bond. He will next be in court Dec. 21 for a pre-trial conference.