The Ladysmith city administrator and his sister — who are both charged with felonies linked to allegations they conspired to spy on a private closed session meeting of the Rusk County Board — faced preliminary hearings in court last week.
An article in the Dec. 11, 2025 issue of The Ladysmith News outlined the charges. According to the article:
Alan B. Christianson Jr., 37, entered a not guilty plea at his preliminary hearing on Dec. 4.
The city administrator’s sister, Stephanie Christianson, age 34, did not enter a plea at her Dec. 4 preliminary hearing.
Both were scheduled to be arraigned on Class H felony charges of intercepting a wire/electronic communication on Friday, Jan. 23.
According to previous accounts and the article, Stephanie Christianson was found outside the meeting room trying to overhear what was being said through a closed door while getting instructions from her city administrator brother via text messages.
If convicted, each faces a maximum penalty of up to six years imprisonment and fines of $10,000.
