Milwaukee jury convicts former city attorney Spencer of misconduct

In Brief

• Tearman Spencer convicted of felony misconduct in public office.
• Milwaukee County jury acquitted Spencer of obstructing an officer.
• Spencer faces up to two years in prison and $10,000 fine.
• Separate felony charges pending in Waukesha County case.

Tearman Spencer, who once served as Milwaukee’s city attorney, is now a convicted felon.

A Milwaukee County jury on July 31 found the 69-year-old guilty of misconduct in public office, a felony.

Prosecutors argued he used his position for personal gain and to intimidate Department of Neighborhood Services personnel who tried to inspect a property he once owned.

The same jury, of eight women and four men, acquitted him of a misdemeanor charge of obstructing an officer.

“I’m not happy with the verdict,” Spencer told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel outside the courtroom. “In my opinion, it didn’t come out the way it should have come out.”

His trial began July 27.

William Sulton, the Milwaukee lawyer who represented Spencer, issued a statement after the jury handed down its decision.

“After five days in court, the jury found that Tearman Spencer did not provide false information to investigators. We stand by the fact that requesting legal research does not constitute misconduct in office, and we fundamentally disagree with the jury’s conclusion on that point. We are assessing our options and will determine our next steps soon.”

Prosecutors charged Spencer in October 2024. Central to their case was a building at 3030 N. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive.

Spencer sold the building to Milwaukee businessman Mohammed Ghaffar before Spencer was elected city attorney in April 2020.

As part of agreement, Spencer would be allowed to continue to store a collection of old cars on the property that were intended to one day be restored.

Spencer said on the witness stand Ghaffar, who testified for the state earlier in the trial, told him an occupancy permit was needed for the vehicles. Spencer said under oath he researched the matter and that such a permit wasn’t necessary.

Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Heitman said in his closing statement Spencer failed to disclose his private interest in the property and lied to investigators who were looking into the case.

Spencer did so intentionally to both cover his tracks and enrich himself, Heitman argued.

“He used the City Attorney’s office as his own law firm,” Heitman said. “This was an attempt to gain an advantage for himself.”

Spencer was voted out of office in 2024, losing to current city attorney Evan Goyke.

What’s next for Tearman Spencer?

Spencer will be sentenced Sept. 11. He faces up to two years behind bars and 18 months of extended supervision, along with a $10,000 fine.

He has other legal battles to fight.

Spencer also was charged in October 2025 with four felonies in a separate case. In that matter, he is accused of working with a partner to obtain a Milwaukee property improperly and then trying to flip it for a large profit.

In court filings, prosecutors say the partner, real estate agent Kennard Wragg, persuaded a Milwaukee man to bypass probate court and sell them the property from his family’s estate for $8,000 – even though it was worth much more than that.

That case was assigned to be heard in Waukesha County.