GREEN LAKE, Wis. (WFRV) – Ryan Borgwardt, the subject of a Green Lake County court case that garnered attention nationwide after he revealed that he faked his death on a kayak incident and fled the country, was in court for a plea/sentencing hearing.
During his hearing, Borgwardt was sentenced to 89 days in the county jail for obstructing officers amidst the investigation into his reported disappearance on August 12, 2024.
Borgwardt plead no contest to obstructing an officer, a misdemeanor that carried a max sentence of nine months behind bars. He did apologize in brief comments he made in court on Tuesday afternoon.
“I deeply regret the actions I did that night all the pain that I caused my family and friends,” he said.
Initially, Borgwardt was reported missing from Green Lake after his kayak flipped over on the waters; however, months later, the Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office determined after investigations that he faked his death and likely fled to Eastern Europe to be with a woman who he met online.
Borgwardt, a father of three, left behind his wife and children, and an analysis of his laptop revealed that he planned his disappearance. Law enforcement found that his name had been run by law enforcement in Canada on August 13.
He later told police that he flipped his kayak on Green Lake, threw his phone in the water, paddled to shore on a small inflatable boat he brought, and then used an e-bike to ride to Madison where he caught a bus that took him to Canada where he boarded a plane to Europe.
Green Lake County judge Mark Slate said he sentenced Borgwardt to 89 days behind bars because it took 89 days for law enforcement officials to track him down after he disappeared last August.
As part of his plea deal, prosecutors and Borgwardt’s lawyer had reached an agreement asking for Borgwardt to spend 45 days in jail.
“Certainly any criminal charge, and sentence that this court hands down won’t be able to come close to undoing the incredible damage done by his premeditated selfish actions, not only to his family but to our community,” said Green Lake County district attorney Gerise LaSpisa.
“This was a non-extraditable misdemeanor,” countered Borgwardt’s lawyer Erik Johnson. “He didn’t want to come back and didn’t have to come back but he did. He wanted to make amends and that’s why he returned.”
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‘Everyone sees justice differently. Undoubtedly there are people that think the sentence issued was too weak, and others who think Mr. Borgwardt should not have been charged at all. True justice often lies somewhere in between the two extremes. In this case it is our view that justice was served. District Attorney Gerise LaSpisa and Defense Attorney Eric Johnson had reached an agreement, and Judge Mark Slate felt that 89 days was more appropriate. Our justice system worked as it should.’
‘Our responsibility was to get Mr. Borgwardt before a court to answer for his actions. We did our job. The justice system’s responsibility was to apply an appropriate sentence and outcome. They did their job. It is now Ryan’s responsibility to make his best effort toward the relationships that were damaged by his actions. We hope he does his job.’
Sheriff Mark Podoll, Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Court records also show that he was granted a Huber status with out-of-county travel service; however, he also must pay $30,000 to cover the investigation costs.This money was split between the Department of Natural Resources and the Green Lake County sheriff’s office.
The district attorney said that the total cost for the search and investigation was northward of $50,000.
Borgwardt didn’t answer questions from reporters when he walked out of the courtroom on Tuesday afternoon.
