Vilas County brothers David and Brian Eliason, charged with 10 counts each of securities fraud, are scheduled to make their initial appearance in Vilas County court before substitute judge Leon Stenz of Forest County on Wednesday, April 13 at which time it's also expected motions filed by the state for a gag order opposed by nine media groups will also be heard.
The allegations of securities fraud were filed Feb. 26 by the Wisconsin Attorney Generals office by assistant A.G. Amber Hahn in connection with the Eliason Combination Fund.
On Feb. 29 counsel for the Eliasons sent to area media a four page document disputing the charges. On March 4 the state filed a motion to “prohibit defendants and the state from talking to the media and public.” On April 5 counsel for nine media filed a motion to intervene “for the limited purpose of opposing the states motion” for the gag order asking the court to deny the states motion “as an unconstitutional prior restraint on freedom of speech and freedom of the press . . . as being so vague and over broad it would have the practical effect of prohibiting all of the parties speech.”
The initial appearance is set for 1:00 p.m. in courtroom two of the Vilas County courthouse.
