Caledonia Argus

Schendel sentenced in sex misconduct case

Posted: 6/15/04

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

A La Crescent man was sentenced on June 9 to two years in jail and 25 years probation for sexual misconduct.

Schendel, 45, pled guilty to seven counts of second degree sexual assault involving four victims under age 13, all felonies; one count of indecent exposure, a gross misdemeanor; and one count of second degree assault causing injury, a felony.

Houston County Circuit Court Judge James Fabian did the sentencing based on a plea agreement that Houston County Attorney Richard Jackson and defense attorney John M. Brinckman of La Crosse jointly recommended.

Judge James Fabian will make a decision on the agreement in about two months, once once a pre-sentence investigation is complete, Jackson said on April 2.

Each felony count consecutively totals a sentence 237 months. That has been stayed.

The agreement has these conditions:

ï Two consecutive one-year sentences in the Houston County Jail. With good behavior, Schendel could be out in 16 months.

ï Probation for 25 years.

ï Sexual offender evaluation and cooperation with treatment.

ï Restitution for counseling for the four alleged victims. and for three other individuals that Schendel admitted having sexual contact with.

ï No contact with the victims, and no unsupervised contact with any children under age 18.

He also is not allowed to go back to his August Hills neighborhood or within three blocks of any La Crescent school.

Schendel will have to face his full prison term if he breaks the conditions of the agreement, Fabian said.

Jackson told the courtroom, which held many of the victims and their parents, that Schendel would be more likely to become a safe member of society if he can get treatment for his behavior. Two assessments have concluded that he is treatable. He also cooperated with investigators.

Several victims and their parents spoke at the sentencing about the negative impact that Schendelís behavior had had on their lives.

In November of 2003, Schendel was charged with two counts two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct involving another girl, after one of his alleged victims told her mother about an incident with him. After further investigation, Jackson filed three more complaints against Schendel on February 23 that allege nine instances of sexual misconduct involving three girls under the age of 13.

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