Milwaukee, WI
Teen blackmailed with inappropriate pictures, Milwaukee man reaches plea deal
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. – A Milwaukee man accused in 2023 of befriending a teen girl online, convincing her to share inappropriate photos and then threatening to leak those photos if she didn’t meet up with him reached a plea deal with prosecutors.
Benjamin Oswald, 25, pleaded guilty to using a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, charges of exposing genitals and threatening to communicate derogatory information were dismissed.
According to a criminal complaint, Oswald claimed he was 18 years old and sent a Snapchat friend request to a girl who said she told him she was 14 years old. After accepting the friend request, the victim said she immediately started getting Snapchat messages from this person.
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Prosecutors said Oswald used fake names and threatened to distribute inappropriate pictures of the victim if she did not meet him at an Oconomowoc park. The complaint said the victim initially claimed she didn’t send photos to Oswald, but later said she did because Oswald told her he would “give her drugs and money” in exchange for them.
The victim later stopped responding to Oswald, prosecutors said, after Oswald kept trying to get her to meet up. She blocked him on Snapchat, but got a new friend request from him using a different name the next day. The complaint said Oswald told the victim he would send drugs or alcohol if she met up with him, but the victim told him not to contact her anymore and warned that he would be blocked. Prosecutors said Oswald then threatened to post the inappropriate photos online.
Oconomowoc Police Department
Prosecutors said the victim was also threatened with the leak of the photos if she didn’t re-add him on Snapchat again after blocking him. According to the complaint, Oswald then gave her a deadline to meet him at an Oconomowoc park, telling the victim if she “didn’t show up, she would regret it.” The victim told police he proved he had the inappropriate photos of her by sending them to her friend. The victim contacted the police to report the harassment and “admitted she was not initially truthful” with officers “because she was afraid she would get in trouble.”
The complaint said the victim’s grandfather chased Oswald’s vehicle after they found him waiting at the Oconomowoc park. The victim, a passenger in her grandfather’s vehicle, was able to identify Oswald as the driver of the car waiting at the park because he “would frequently send her” inappropriate pictures, the complaint said.
The victim said her grandfather got out and tried confronting Oswald, but he sped off. They were all eventually stopped by police.
Milwaukee, WI
Fatal beating in Milwaukee; 47-year-old struck multiple times, killed
Milwaukee Police Department (MPD)
MILWAUKEE – A person was beaten to death in Milwaukee overnight on Sunday, Nov. 23.
Incident details
What we know:
According to the Milwaukee Police Department, at about midnight, the 47-year-old victim got into a physical altercation with other people and was struck multiple times on the front and back of the head.
The altercation happened near 11th and Locust.
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The victim was taken to a local hospital by an associate of theirs, but suffered fatal head injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
MPD tips
What you can do:
Police are looking for those responsible.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Milwaukee police at 414-935-7360 or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-Tips or use the P3 Tips app.
The Source: The Milwaukee Police Department sent FOX6 the information.
Milwaukee, WI
4 Bucks Ruled Out Ahead of Pistons Game Saturday
The Milwaukee Bucks will be without some key cogs against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
More news: Doc Rivers Credits NBA All-Star-Turned-Bucks Assistant with Big Impact
Per the Bucks’ official X account, the club will still be missing nine-time All-NBA power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, starting point guard (for now) Kevin Porter Jr., and reserve 3-and-D forward Taurean Prince due to injury. Giannis’ little brother, Alex, will be putting in reps with the Bucks’ NBAGL affiliate in Oshkosh, the Wisconsin Herd.
Injury Update: Kyle Kuzma (Illness) is questionable for tonight’s game vs. Detroit.
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) November 22, 2025
Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to miss the next one-to-two weeks of action, at least, with a low-grade left groin strain. The two-time league MVP had previously been shelved because of nagging knee tendinitis, which cost him two games prior to this latest ailment.
When he has been available this year (in 13 games so far), the 2021 Finals MVP has been averaging 31.2 points on .629/.500/.636 shooting splits, 10.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 1.2 blocks and 0.9 steals a night.
Obviously, missing the Bucks’ best player will prove costly against the hottest team in the league. Detroit is in the midst of an 11-game win streak, and doesn’t seem likely to drop even a road matchup in Milwaukee, at least without the threat of Antetokounmpo.
Other Milwaukee Absences, Explained
Prince, meanwhile, underwent neck surgery to treat a herniated disc, and could be unavailable for multiple months as he recuperates.
Porter, anointed to be nine-time All-Star Damian Lillard’s positional successor at the starting point guard spot heading into the year, has missed all but one game for Milwaukee. The 6-foot-4 USC product first sprained his ankle during the Bucks’ season opener, and then tore his meniscus in his rehab ramp-up. Without Porter, Ryan Rollins has stepped up.
Rollins’ development likely signifies the end of Porter’s tenure as his club’s starting point guard, especially the longer his recovery drags on. Through 16 games, the 23-year-old University of Toledo alum has been averaging 18.3 points on .511/.443/.800 shooting splits, 5.9 dimes, 3.9 boards and 1.6 swipes per bout.
Per the team, newly-minted starting small forward Kyle Kuzma has seen his status demoted to questionable ahead of the Pistons clash, as he may be struck down by a new, unspecified illness.
According to the league’s latest injury report, Pistons power forward Tobias Harris (right ankle sprain) and shooting guard Jaden Ivey (return to competition reconditioning) are questionable to play. Combo forward Bobi Klintman (left ankle sprain), power forward Isaac Jones (G League assignment), guard Marcus Sasser (right hip impingement), and two-way players Wendell Moore Jr. and Tolu Smith (on assignment to Detroit’s G League squad) are all out.
Latest Bucks News
For more news and notes on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit Milwaukee Bucks on SI.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee lights 112th annual Christmas tree in historic Deer District celebration
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee celebrated the lighting of its 112th annual Christmas tree Thursday evening in the Deer District, marking the second-longest-running Christmas tree lighting tradition in the United States behind only New York City.
The 42-foot Colorado blue spruce, donated by Kaitlyn Schmidt Thabet and Amgad Thabet, was transformed with vibrant jewel tones, large reflective metallic ornaments, oversized snowflakes and lighted stars inspired by the theme “Shining Together.”
“This tree stands as a celebration of Milwaukee’s incredible spirit during the winter season,” said David Caruso, designer of the Christmas tree and local event planner and TV host. “My hope is that it fills your evening and your holidays with light, joy and pride.”
Watch the full tree lighting ceremony:
Milwaukee lights 112th annual Christmas tree in historic Deer District celebration
Mayor Cavalier Johnson emphasized the historic significance of the event during his remarks to the crowd gathered in the Deer District.
“Tonight is special, not just because the holiday brings people together, but because this is a historic night for Milwaukee,” Johnson said. “Our Christmas tree lighting in the City of Milwaukee is the second-longest-running Christmas tree lighting in the United States of America, only behind New York City.”
The celebration featured performances by the Reagan High School varsity Drumline and entertainment by Guyton Entertainment and DJ YC.
Santa Claus made a special appearance, accompanied by his reindeer. Another famous deer — Bucks mascot Bango, also took part in the celebration.
Peter Feigin, president of the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum, expressed pride in hosting the tree lighting in the Deer District.
“This is what we dreamed about when we built the Deer District,” Feigin said. “This is one of the greatest things.”
The celebration concluded with the mayor’s family and other children helping to officially light the tree, continuing Milwaukee’s 112-year tradition of bringing the community together for the holidays.
The event also launched the new Deer District Holiday Market, which runs through November 30 in the beer garden area. The market features local makers, food and drinks.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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