A Wisconsin Dells woman faces time in jail for muttering threats to burn down the Columbia County Courthouse.

Sandra L. Harris, 54, was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct at an initial hearing Monday. She is free on a $200 signature bond and is ordered to have no contact with the employees at the courthouse who heard her threats.

Harris reportedly was overheard at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday by courthouse employees mumbling that she was going to burn down the courthouse and everyone inside it, according to court records.

Harris had been at the courthouse for a civil matter involving a restraining order. When an employee told her no action would be taken on a motion she filed in the case, Harris reportedly yelled at the employees, calling them "Nazi whores," according to police records.

Harris, speaking at the hearing, said of the charges, "These are lies - how can they do that?"

Harris was found guilty at a trial in May and ordered to pay a $186 fine on a disorderly conduct citation on a February incident.

If she is found guilty of the charge, she faces a maximum penalty of 1 1/2 years in prison and fine of $1,000.

She is scheduled for a pretrial conference Jan. 2.

sgreen@capitalnewspapers.com

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