Beloit man accused of threatening people with rifle

BELOIT — A Beloit man faces several charges after he reportedly threatened two individuals with a rifle.

Jose Guadalupe Espinoza, 46, faces two counts of second-degree recklessly endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, disorderly conduct with use of a dangerous weapon and criminal damage to property, according to a criminal complaint filed in Rock County Circuit Court on July 2.

According to the criminal complaint, Espinoza was threatening two individuals who were in a vehicle in a mobile home park in the town of Bradford on June 30. Espinoza reportedly told the individuals to leave, pointed the rifle at them and broke a rear-view mirror on the vehicle by striking it with the butt of the rifle. Rock County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol officials responded to the trailer park to investigate the incident.

The two counts of recklessly endangering safety while armed are Class G felonies, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or up to $25,000 in fines. Possession of a firearm while intoxicated is a Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to nine months in prison and/or a $10,000 fine. Disorderly conduct with use of a dangerous weapon is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.

Espinoza is scheduled for an adjourned initial court appearance on July 31 in Rock County Circuit Court. Cash bond for Espinoza was set at $500.