La Crescent man facing more sexual misconduct charges
Posted: 3/2/04
Scott M. Schendel, 45, of La Crescent has been charged with nine more counts of sexual misconduct involving children.
In December he pleaded not guilty in District Court to two counts of second degree criminal sexual misconduct.
The additional charges grew out of the investigation of the original charge, Houston County Attorney Richard Jackson said on February 27.
Jackson filed three new complaints on February 23 that allege nine instances of sexual misconduct involving three girls under the age of 13.
Seven of the counts are for criminal sexual conduct in the second degree. A conviction for each count carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison and/or $35,000 fine.
The other two counts are for indecent exposure and criminal sexual conduct in the fifth degree, each of which carries a one year and/or $3,000 penalty.
The incidents allegedly occurred from 2000 to 2003 at the defendantís home while the girls were visiting his daughter. They involved inappropriate touching in the seven more serious charges, and exposing himself in the other two charges.
The first incident for which he was charged last fall allegedly occurred on October 16. Schendel is accused of kissing a 10-year old La Crescent girl and then touching her inappropriately after giving her a ride from his home, where she had been visiting.
He is free on a $10,000 cash bond. He is allowed to go out of state to do work, but can have no contact with the alleged victims, and no unsupervised contact with children under age 18.
Schendel is scheduled to return to court on a Rule Eight or arraignment hearing on March 4 at 11 a.m. At this time he can enter a plea or request an omnibus hearing , where the court looks at constitutional challenges or challenges to probable cause.
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