A Green Bay man was sentenced to three years' probation for a stabbing in a State Street bar on Halloween, an act he called "pure stupidity."
Robert Goodletson, 48, was released from the Brown County Jail after his sentencing Aug. 17 at the Brown County Courthouse. Goodletson has three young adult children, all of whom were at the sentencing.
At 8:46 p.m. Oct. 31, Green Bay police were dispatched to a weapons call at the Hammer Inn, 1208 State St. Goodleston was at the bar when his wife came in with a man. Goodletson said the man was having a relationship with his wife, according to the criminal complaint.
Goodletson yelled at the victim across the bar, according to the complaint, and video footage from the bar shows Goodletson standing up from his chair and holding up a knife toward the man. The victim was stabbed four times in his upper torso and struck once in the head.
The victim told police that Goodleston was his friend's ex-husband. The couple was not legally divorced but not together anymore. The defense attorney said Goodleston did not see the divorce coming.
Goodleston pleaded no contest on June 12 to second-degree reckless injury, according to court records.
Brown County Assistant District Attorney Robert Maniak said in court on Aug. 17, the state was asking for a sentence of four years in prison followed by five years of extended supervision.
Defense attorney Rex Anderegg asked for no prison time. "This marriage was healthy. They grew apart and his wife moved on and she moved out," Anderegg said at the sentencing. "And so he lost part of his identity as a husband, he lost his vision of growing old, his family intact."
Goodletson spoke at the sentencing, apologizing to the victim, the community, the business and "for the stupidity that I brought up."
He said his plan is to invest in a food truck to give back to the community and show them "I'm not a harmful person."
Goodletson said he felt his 26-year marriage was "ripped" away from him and "nobody understood."
"Just pure stupidity," Goodletson said in court. "And I can tell you one thing, that I won't ever put myself back in this position again,"
Goodletson's half brother attended the sentencing and said Goodletson is a great father who "lost his entire life." He added that given his upbringing, Goodletson was not well-equipped to handle the divorce and instead of prison he needs access to psychological help.
Brown County Judge Donald Zuidmulder said Goodletson had no "significant contact" with the criminal justice system prior to Oct. 31. He said this incident could have gone a very different direction in a moment.
"Once that weapon came out, human life was at risk," Zuidmulder said.
Zuidmulder said his decision for probation was, in part, because Goodletson has spent 287 days in jail where he had the time to reflect on his life and "decide what's important." Over that time Goodletson also got his high school equivalency diploma.
"You talked to me from your heart and from your mind," Zuidmulder said. "And you said it was a stupid thing."
Conditions of the probation state Goodletson must seek social services from the Oneida Nation, as he is a member, and find full-time employment, schooling, or a combination. He can not consume any alcohol or go to a place where alcohol is dispensed, and he cannot have contact with his ex-wife, except for judicial proceedings. They will be at a courthouse together when finalizing their divorce Sept. 28.
Kathryn Byrnes is a reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at [email protected] or 920-431-8526.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay man sentenced to probation for 2025 Halloween bar stabbing