Judge enters not guilty plea for Kieper

ANTIGO -- Friday afternoon at the Langlade County Courthouse, Marathon County Judge Rick Cveykus entered not guilty pleas on all charges against Gary Kieper, who stands accused of embezzling over $300,000 from the Town of Ackley and Langlade County Rural Fire Control while serving as treasurer for the organizations.

Cveykus only entered the pleas because Kieper “stood mute,” or remained silent and chose not to enter pleas himself. Kieper will have another status conference July 26 at 1:30 p.m., at which time he has the right to change his pleas should he so desire.

According to the criminal complaint, which was based on limited available records, Kieper, now 69, stole $242,684.26 from the Town of Ackley from 2013 to 2023, and $80,458.02 from Rural Fire Control from 2017 to 2023.