A 52-year-old Wisconsin man was taken into custody after employees of his father’s residential facility witnessed a fight between the two men and called the police. Reports of the incident were unclear as to the extent of the father’s disability, but the man was charged with abuse to an at-risk individual as well as disorderly conduct.
The man initially pleaded not guilty to the charges, but he and his attorney settled on a no contest plea afterwards. At his trial, the man was found guilty for the disorderly conduct charge and was given a deferred sentence for a felony count of abuse. The man is on probation and is forbidden to contact his father unless the interaction is approved by his probation officer. For two years, he must comply with probation guidelines and must not commit any more criminal offenses. If he complies with all guidelines and with mandatory counseling, the charge will be dismissed at a hearing in 2015. He has also been ordered to pay $486 in court costs related to the offense.
It isn’t clear what caused the altercation between the man and his father, but the felony charge includes a count of causing bodily harm, so it’s likely that injuries occurred. Although the offender doesn’t faceincarceration at present, he will have to serve time behind bars if convicted of the felony charge.
The man in this case has a lawyer who was able to negotiate for lesser sentencing with counseling and behavioral guidelines instead of a felony charge with prison time. Even if an offender is found guilty, his or her defense lawyers may be able to help them face lesser charges or reduced sentencing.
Source: Door County Advocate, “Elder abuse case settled with probation”, December 30, 2013
