WEST BEND, Wis. — A man from West Bend now faces over a dozen felony charges after police find drugs and guns at his home near a Girl Scout camp.
48-year-old Paul David is accused of growing marijuana and possessing multiple firearms at his home at the Camp Silverbrook Girl Scout Camp in West Bend.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators searched David’s home on March 15 after receiving a call related to a “domestic-related charge”.
Officers found “thirteen firearms, all within [David’s] residence, while he is a convicted felon and unable to possess said firearms” in addition to “multiple jars containing a green leafy vegetable substance” believed to be marijuana. Several spaces in the home had been converted to allow for growing marijuana.
They also found new, unused black commercial packaging bags for the marijuana, two jars of mushrooms that investigators believed to be Psilocybin mushrooms, and multiple packages of marijuana seeds to start growing more plants. “The overall weight of the raw marijuana located is 687.74 grams, the psilocybin mushroom is 39.10 gram, and 9 marijuana plants.”
The officers noted that the drugs and firearms were all within reach of two children that lived in the home, ages 8 and 16.
Additionally, court documents show that David was conducting his growing operation near the Camp Silverbrook, Girl Scout Campgrounds, operating within 1,000 feet of a youth center.
David was arrested on March 17 on 13 felony counts of possessing a firearm by an out-of-state convicted felon, possessing a firearm silencer, three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver or distribute a controlled substance on or near a youth center, and one misdemeanor count of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Court records show that David has 4 previous OWI-related offenses in Wisconsin, including a conviction from 2010, as well as a conviction for DUI Alcohol/Drugs from Illinois.
David is currently out on $75,000 cash bond, with his next hearing set for May 6. If convicted on all charges, he could face over 160 years in prison.
The Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE) confirmed that David’s wife is an employee, and is currently on administrative leave during the criminal investigation.
The organization sent the following letter to parents and volunteers:
To our GSWISE members:
We are reaching out to make you aware of a situation that has come to our attention and to assure you that we are taking it very seriously.
On Monday, March 16, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office alerted Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast (GSWISE) to a criminal complaint that occurred on Sunday, March 15 at a residence on our property, adjacent to Camp Silver Brook in West Bend. GSWISE was not aware of this situation prior to being contacted by the Sheriff’s Office. The individual listed in the criminal complaint is not a GSWISE employee.
Upon learning of the incident, we immediately launched a thorough, multi-pronged investigation. The employee involved has been placed on leave, and the outcome of our investigation will determine next steps.
We want to be clear:
- No Girl Scouts – past or present – have been endangered or harmed at Camp Silver Brook.
- A routine property inspection of the residence, completed in December 2025, did not alert us to any policy violations.
- The individual listed in the criminal complaint is not and has not been an employee at GSWISE.
GSWISE has camp leadership in place to ensure we are still offering Camp Silver Brook as a safe, fun place for Girl Scouts to grow, learn, and explore.- The conduct listed in the criminal complaint is not consistent with Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast’s values or our policies.
- Our primary concern — now and always — is the safety of the girls in our care. We are committed to ensuring that our spaces remain safe for local Girl Scouts to explore and learn.
We understand this news may be concerning, and we want to assure you that we are addressing it and working with local authorities throughout their investigation.
Sincerely,
Ana Simpson
Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast
