Bad Party Guest Faces Charges for Damage Done

It will probably be awhile before any of these folks invite this guy to another party.

The 22-year-old Milwaukee man is facing charges for allegedly damaging two cars after being asked to leave a Wauwatosa gathering last year.

Thomas E. Barton was charged Monday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with two counts of criminal damage to property. If convicted, he faces up to 18 months in prison and $20,000 in fines.

According to the criminal complaint:

At 2:45 a.m. Nov. 24, a woman was hosting a party at her home in the 1300 block of St. James Court and had invited Barton, who is her cousin. During the course of the party, at which considerable alcohol was being consumed, some of the guests began to complaint about Barton, saying he'd had too much to drink and had "freaked out."

The host told Barton he had to leave. He argued angrily, but eventually left.

However, moments later, guests heard the sound of smashing glass, and when they went outside they saw Barton walking away from two guest’s cars, which were now damaged.

The host confronted her cousin, who pushed her, so she called .

Barton was later arrested while walking near North 76th Street and West Chambers Street, but refused to tell officers anything, saying they couldn’t prove anything because no one saw him.

However, a neighbor had been out on a porch smoking a cigarette at the time of the incident and saw someone raise a metal construction barrier and toss it at a car, then saw Barton walking away from the area.

One car was only scratched in the incident while the other had two broken windows.

Barton will make his initial appearance in court Sept. 6.