BIG BEND, WI — Police in Wisconsin say a bartender served her 18-year-old son alcohol at the bar where she worked before he later died in a motorcycle crash. Investigators say Joshua Schladweiler was drinking at Papa Stache in Big Bend on the night of the July collision, which happened after he left the bar and was allegedly traveling at about 100 mph.
Authorities said Schladweiler crossed the center line and hit a van in Muskego. He died after the crash, and investigators said his blood-alcohol concentration was 0.171. No criminal charges have been filed yet, but police have referred several possible counts against his mother, Angela Schladweiler, while prosecutors continue reviewing the case.
Police say video captured the teen drinking at Papa Stache
According to investigators, Joshua Schladweiler spent part of the evening at Papa Stache with his mother after getting off work around 5:30 or 6 p.m. His father, Brian Schladweiler, said Joshua remained at the bar until about 10:30 p.m. before the fatal ride home.
Police say surveillance video reportedly shows the teenager drinking beer inside the bar that night. They also say Angela Schladweiler, who was working as the bartender, served him multiple bottles. The details have become central to the case because they could affect both any criminal case and the bar’s licensing status.
The family has publicly questioned how the crash happened after what they describe as repeated underage drinking involving the same bar. Joshua’s aunt, Melissa Weinberger, said she wants more information about the incident and believes many people still do not understand what happened before the collision.
Investigators refer potential charges, but prosecutors have not acted yet
Police have referred possible charges against Angela Schladweiler that include second-degree reckless homicide, sale of alcohol to an underage person, criminal recklessness and sale to an intoxicated person. Even so, the Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office has not filed criminal charges at this point.
That leaves the case in a waiting period as prosecutors weigh whether the facts support a filing. The district attorney’s office says it is reviewing newly turned over information to decide whether criminal charges are warranted.
The legal question may hinge in part on Wisconsin’s rules about when a parent can provide alcohol to a child. Independent criminal defense attorney Jonathan LaVoy told FOX 6 that state law allows parents to provide alcohol to their children, or allow someone else to do so, if the child is accompanied while drinking. He said the surveillance video could be key in determining whether that condition was met.
State law may turn on whether the parent was truly present
LaVoy said the meaning of “accompanied” matters in this case. In his view, that would mean the parent is essentially keeping direct watch over the child, often in the same room, while the alcohol is being consumed.
He said the facts would depend on whether Angela Schladweiler was with Joshua while he was drinking. That distinction could shape the legal outcome, though LaVoy said he does not believe criminal charges will ultimately be filed.
The video evidence, investigators say, is important because it may show not just that Joshua drank at the bar, but also how much supervision his mother had over him during the evening. That could become a central issue if prosecutors decide to move forward.
Family members want accountability after a deadly crash
Joshua’s father said he wants consequences for both the crash and what happened beforehand. Brian Schladweiler said he hopes his former wife faces jail time and that Papa Stache loses its liquor license.
Weinberger echoed that frustration, criticizing the decision to let an underage son leave a bar after drinking. She said she believes the situation was irresponsible and deserves more scrutiny.
The family’s comments reflect a broader demand for answers about how the teen ended up behind the wheel or on the road after drinking at the bar. They are also pressing for the case to be treated as more than a routine traffic fatality.
Police say this was not the first underage alcohol complaint at the bar
Weinberger said police told the family that Angela Schladweiler served her son alcohol on several previous occasions. Investigators also said she had been cited before for providing underage patrons with alcohol at Papa Stache.
That history could matter as the bar faces scrutiny beyond the fatal wreck itself. A due process hearing on the liquor license is scheduled for Nov. 30, which could bring the business under further review.
For the family of the man hit in the crash, the legal and licensing questions are tied to the same broader concern: whether anyone should be held accountable for an evening that ended with one death and another person badly affected. Ray Amdahl, whose van was struck, said he was lucky to survive and urged prosecutors to fully examine the case.
