LoungeMachine
10-19-2007, 11:53 AM
Wisconsin GOP Leader Charged in Teen Sex Scandal
by Kilian Melloy
EDGE Boston Contributor
Monday Oct 15, 2007
A Wisconsin Republican leader has been charged with child enticement, among other charges, following allegations that he touched a minor who had run away from a facility for minors.
Donald Fleischman, the Republican Party chairman of Brown County, Wis., also allegedly provided the 16-year-old boy with marijuana and beer, touched the boy inappropriately, and exposed himself to the minor, according to an article posted on Friday by the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
The alleged incident purportedly took place late in 2006. No media coverage of the alleged activity between Fleischman and the boy was covered in the press until bloggers and Air America caught wind of Fleischman’s scheduled court appearance, according to an article posted today at the online publication The Daily Page.
The Daily Page provided a timeline of events that included visits from the 16-year-old and a second boy; the 16-year-old’s date of deposition; charges filed against Fleischman, nine months after the fact; and the eventual notice taken by the media, following a Sept. 10 posting online regarding Fleischman’s court date.
Fleischman appeared in court on Sept. 28, and is now free on a signature bond.
Jeff Jazgar, lawyer for Fleischman, said that the charges will be contested at the Oct. 29 preliminary hearing. Said Jazgar, "My client is innocent of the charges."
Continued Jazgar, "Our plan is to get some witnesses to testify and present enough information to dismiss the case."
The criminal complaint from Sept. 7 says that police showed up at Fleischman’s house last November 19, where they found a 16-year-old boy hiding in a closet and clad only in his underwear and a T-shirt. The boy was reportedly a runaway from a nearby juvenile facility, Ethan House.
The police also found a glass pipe that, when tested, showed marijuana residue.
A second visit from police on Dec. 8, 2006, resulted in the boy being found in Fleischman’s house a second time, after the boy had been missing from Ethan House for just over a week.
The boy said that Fleischman had taken him to a hotel and then to a cabin during that time. The boy also said that Fleischman had given him beer and marijuana.
Drug tests taken by the minor in late November and early December proved positive for marijuana use.
The juvenile provided further details, saying that Fleischman would touch him inappropriately at bedtime. The boy also said that he awoke on one occasion to find Fleischman touching himself.
Kirsten Kukowski, the Party’s state communications director, said that Fleischman has left his position as chairman of the Brown County Republicans.
The charges Fleischman faces comprise three misdemeanors and two felonies. Fleischman could receive up to 52 years’ sentence if convicted.
Kilian Melloy reviews media, conducts interviews, and writes commentary for EDGEBoston, where he also serves as Assistant Arts Editor.
by Kilian Melloy
EDGE Boston Contributor
Monday Oct 15, 2007
A Wisconsin Republican leader has been charged with child enticement, among other charges, following allegations that he touched a minor who had run away from a facility for minors.
Donald Fleischman, the Republican Party chairman of Brown County, Wis., also allegedly provided the 16-year-old boy with marijuana and beer, touched the boy inappropriately, and exposed himself to the minor, according to an article posted on Friday by the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
The alleged incident purportedly took place late in 2006. No media coverage of the alleged activity between Fleischman and the boy was covered in the press until bloggers and Air America caught wind of Fleischman’s scheduled court appearance, according to an article posted today at the online publication The Daily Page.
The Daily Page provided a timeline of events that included visits from the 16-year-old and a second boy; the 16-year-old’s date of deposition; charges filed against Fleischman, nine months after the fact; and the eventual notice taken by the media, following a Sept. 10 posting online regarding Fleischman’s court date.
Fleischman appeared in court on Sept. 28, and is now free on a signature bond.
Jeff Jazgar, lawyer for Fleischman, said that the charges will be contested at the Oct. 29 preliminary hearing. Said Jazgar, "My client is innocent of the charges."
Continued Jazgar, "Our plan is to get some witnesses to testify and present enough information to dismiss the case."
The criminal complaint from Sept. 7 says that police showed up at Fleischman’s house last November 19, where they found a 16-year-old boy hiding in a closet and clad only in his underwear and a T-shirt. The boy was reportedly a runaway from a nearby juvenile facility, Ethan House.
The police also found a glass pipe that, when tested, showed marijuana residue.
A second visit from police on Dec. 8, 2006, resulted in the boy being found in Fleischman’s house a second time, after the boy had been missing from Ethan House for just over a week.
The boy said that Fleischman had taken him to a hotel and then to a cabin during that time. The boy also said that Fleischman had given him beer and marijuana.
Drug tests taken by the minor in late November and early December proved positive for marijuana use.
The juvenile provided further details, saying that Fleischman would touch him inappropriately at bedtime. The boy also said that he awoke on one occasion to find Fleischman touching himself.
Kirsten Kukowski, the Party’s state communications director, said that Fleischman has left his position as chairman of the Brown County Republicans.
The charges Fleischman faces comprise three misdemeanors and two felonies. Fleischman could receive up to 52 years’ sentence if convicted.
Kilian Melloy reviews media, conducts interviews, and writes commentary for EDGEBoston, where he also serves as Assistant Arts Editor.