Former Mayor of Cudahy being investigated for possible felony

CUDAHY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A longtime mayor of Cudahy is being investigated for a possible felony, according to the city’s current mayor and police chief.

CBS 58 has obtained a copy of a signed confession statement in which John Hohenfeldt admits to committing forgery.

Hohenfeldt was the mayor for nine years. He decided not to seek re-election in April.

The statement was part of an email from Hohenfeldt’s attorney to the Wisconsin Ethics Commission.

In the statement, Hohenfeldt details what led to him using the city notary stamp to falsely notarize a complaint he had filed with the Commission.

He writes he used the fake name John Smith to accuse three candidates in April’s elections of breaking campaign rules with their yard signs.

The complaint appears to be signed and stamped by the city notary.

Thomas Pavlic, Cudahy’s current mayor and one of the candidates named in the complaint, says the Wisconsin Department of Justice is investigating Hohenfeldt’s actions.

Forgery can be a felony in Wisconsin punishable by up to six years in prison.

The DOJ didn’t respond to our multiple requests for comment.

In Hohenfeldt’s statement, he expresses remorse for what he says he did “in a moment of hurt and anger.”

He writes, “I made a decision that violated everything I stand for...I have truly violated the trust of the residents of Cudahy.”

He also writes he believes “there should be consequences” for him.

We went to his home seeking comment and more clarity about the confession statement.

The person who answered the door said Hohenfeldt wasn’t home and asked us to leave the property.

Hohenfeldt’s attorney also didn’t respond to our multiple requests for comment.

In his email to the Ethics Commission, the attorney asked for Hohenfeldt’s falsely notarized complaint to be withdrawn.

The city notary was found to have done nothing wrong.