Detective’s son gets prison for trying to intimidate abused woman
He was sentenced to 5 1⁄2 years for the charges
The son of a Milwaukee police detective pleaded guilty Friday to charges of domestic violence, intimidation and bail jumping.
Zhahir Mustafa on Friday faced criminal complaints related to separate incidents in January and August 2021 involving the mother of his child.
Mustafa pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery, property damage, intimidation of the victim and bail jumping. He was sentenced to 51⁄2 years in prison.
His mother, suspended Milwaukee police detective Freedom Mustafa, was charged with misconduct in public office for pressuring the victim to not press charges and for helping her son contact the victim. Freedom Mustafa has a plea hearing Aug. 4.
The victim was pregnant in both incidents and was hospitalized with severe injuries each time. Her injuries included a fractured spine, visible bruising and a lacerated liver.
Zhahir Mustafa, 23, was arrested on Aug. 24 and ordered not to contact the victim for three days. He contacted his mother while he was in the Milwaukee County Jail, received the victim's phone number and called the victim 14 times during that period. He tried to persuade her to drop the charges.
Prosecutor Nicholas Heitman requested Mustafa go to prison for 9 years and undergo supervision for another 71⁄2 years upon his release.
He highlighted Mustafa's many attempts to contact his victim from jail, and noted the victim had to undergo an emergency C-section after the August incident.
Robert E. Webb, Jr., Mustafa's lawyer, argued his client had taken responsibility, and that he had support from his family members. Mustafa said he wanted a second chance to be a "great dad" and to pursue alternate paths. The victim had also expressed support for Mustafa in her impact statement.
Mustafa will be supervised for 41⁄2 years after he serves his prison term.
Judge Frederick C. Rosa said Mustafa carried out a "continuous barrage of abuse" and demonstrated a track record of not following court orders. Mustafa had picked up several additional counts against him during his previous period of release after his family had posted a significant bail. The contact with his victim was an "attack on the court system", the judge added.
Freedom Mustafa also attempted to persuade the victim not to press charges. MPD said in an email to the Journal Sentinel Freedom Mustafa is on "full suspension pending internal review." She had been promoted in September 2021, while an internal investigation into her conduct was ongoing.
She faces a felony with a maximum 31⁄2 years in prison, as well as numerous misdemeanor charges.