Frank D. Steward, a State Farm insurance agent who ran offices in Hudson, New Richmond, and Osceola, Wisconsin, pleaded guilty on October 17, 2025, to homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle in the death of his wife, Michelle A. Steward. He was sentenced on December 19, 2025, in Polk County Circuit Court, and his registration with State Farm Investment Management Corp. ended twelve days after the plea.1Hudson Star-Observer. Hudson State Farm Agent Charged With Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle2DrydenWire. Wisconsin Man Sentenced in Negligent Homicide UTV Crash Case3SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure. Investment Adviser Representative Report – Frank David Steward (CRD# 2995627)
What Happened on June 9, 2024
Balsam Lake first responders were called that day to a Utility Task Vehicle crash. Michelle Steward, 51, was taken to St. Croix Regional Medical Center with fractured ribs on both sides and road rash on her right chest and shoulder. She did not survive.1Hudson Star-Observer. Hudson State Farm Agent Charged With Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle
Frank Steward’s account of the injuries shifted. He told hospital staff his wife had fallen down eight or nine steps earlier in the day. He told EMS personnel she had fallen from ground level. A physician at the medical center flagged the case to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office because the injuries were not consistent with a ground-level fall. The Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office autopsy, issued June 27, 2024, listed the cause of death as “multiple injuries due to probable motor vehicle striking pedestrian.”1Hudson Star-Observer. Hudson State Farm Agent Charged With Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle
How Investigators Built the Case
Deputy Ben Hall of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation. Security footage from the Thirsty Otter, a Balsam Lake bar and restaurant, showed the couple arriving at 10:04 a.m. on June 9, 2024. At about 3:16 p.m., Frank Steward was recorded taking to-go alcoholic drinks, including a Tito’s and lime and a cup of wine. The couple left by UTV around 3:23 p.m. Steward later told investigators they had each had four drinks at the bar.1Hudson Star-Observer. Hudson State Farm Agent Charged With Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle
The footage also showed Michelle Steward had no visible injuries when the couple arrived that morning, cutting against any claim she had been hurt earlier in the day. Investigators cited conflicting accounts from Steward and obtained admissions from him during the investigation.4DrydenWire. Homicide Charges Proceeding Against Man for Wife’s 2024 Death in Polk County Crash reconstruction, the autopsy, and the shifting explanations led prosecutors to conclude Michelle Steward had been struck by the UTV rather than injured in a fall.
Charge, Plea, and Sentencing
On April 9, 2025, roughly ten months after the death, the Polk County District Attorney filed a criminal complaint charging Steward, then 55, with one felony count of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle under Wisconsin Statute § 940.10.1Hudson Star-Observer. Hudson State Farm Agent Charged With Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Vehicle
Steward pleaded guilty on October 17, 2025, according to his firm’s report filed with FINRA.3SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure. Investment Adviser Representative Report – Frank David Steward (CRD# 2995627) Sentencing took place on December 19, 2025.2DrydenWire. Wisconsin Man Sentenced in Negligent Homicide UTV Crash Case The specific terms of the sentence have not been reported in publicly available sources reviewed for this article. Steward’s FINRA summary categorized the matter as “on appeal” as of the most recent filing.5FINRA BrokerCheck. BrokerCheck Report – Frank David Steward (CRD# 2995627)
What Wisconsin § 940.10 Requires
Homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle is a Class G felony in Wisconsin.6Wisconsin State Legislature. Wis. Stat. § 940.10 – Homicide by Negligent Operation of Vehicle To convict, prosecutors must prove three elements beyond a reasonable doubt: that the defendant operated a vehicle, that the operation was criminally negligent, and that the criminal negligence caused the victim’s death. Criminal negligence under Wisconsin law means the operation created an unreasonable and substantial risk of death or great bodily harm, and the defendant should have been aware of that risk.7Wisconsin State Law Library. Wisconsin Criminal Jury Instruction 1170 A Class G felony carries a maximum penalty of ten years in state prison and a fine of up to $25,000.
Impact on His State Farm and Securities Registrations
Steward had been a State Farm agent since 2011 and affiliated with the company since 1993, operating the Frank Steward Insurance Agency in New Richmond, Hudson, and Osceola. He also held the Chartered Financial Consultant designation and was registered as an investment adviser representative with State Farm Investment Management Corp.5FINRA BrokerCheck. BrokerCheck Report – Frank David Steward (CRD# 2995627)
His registration with State Farm Investment Management Corp. ended on October 29, 2025, twelve days after the guilty plea was recorded. His FINRA BrokerCheck record shows he is no longer registered as a broker or investment adviser representative. No customer complaints, arbitrations, or civil actions by clients appear in his regulatory filings.3SEC Investment Adviser Public Disclosure. Investment Adviser Representative Report – Frank David Steward (CRD# 2995627)