Former Milwaukee City Attorney Tearman Spencer faces charges of felony misconduct in office and obstructing an officer, following a criminal complaint that accuses him of using his position to sidestep regulations and fees related to a property where he stored vehicles. According to FOX6 News, Spencer is alleged to have directed city attorney's office resources to prevent the Department of Neighborhood Services from carrying out inspections, which allowed him to avoid thousands of dollars' worth of fees and repairs.
The allegations suggest Spencer went to great lengths to ensure he could, without any oversight, efficiently use his discretionary power for personal gain. The misconduct reportedly occurred between June 2022 and February 2023. Additionally, Spencer is accused of misleading investigators about the usage of city resources while admitting to using them for his benefit, as reported by TMJ4 News. This count of misdemeanor obstructing an officer adds to the former city attorney’s potential legal trouble.
The commercial property at the center of the allegations is located at 3030 North Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. It's where Spencer kept several of his vehicles and where he reportedly interfered with the necessary Department of Neighborhood Services inspections. Department of Neighborhood Services inspectors felt intimidated during their interactions with Spencer, which inhibited their ability to perform their duties, as detailed in the charges. According to WISN, Spencer failed to disclose his personal interest in the property when instructing city staff on the matter, which could be a significant factor in the case against him.
If convicted, Spencer could face serious penalties for his actions: a Class I Felony, which carries fines up to $10,000 and imprisonment of up to three years and six months for the misconduct in office charge; and a Class A Misdemeanor could bring additional fines and a nine-month jail term for obstructing an officer, as per WISN. Spencer's actions have cast a shadow over the office of the city attorney, raising questions about the use of public office for personal gain and the effective oversight of officials entrusted with public resources and power.
