Posted: 8/8/06
Gieser pleads not guilty in child pornography case
Former Caledonia Elementary School teacher Craig Gieser pled not guilty on August 2 to possessing and distributing child pornograph.
Gieser, represented by attorney Peter Ekstrand, also requested a jury trial. No date has been set for that yet.
Gieser, 49, was charged on May 3, 2005, with one count of dissemination of pornography involving a minor and two counts of possession of child pornography. The crimes carry a maximum sentence 17 years in prison and/or a $10,000 fine; and 30,000 fine.
Gieser is free on $50,000 bond. Conditions of his release include no computer or internet usage, no contact with anyone under age 18, no going to places where there would be a congregation of people under age 18, including a library. If Gieser leaves Minnesota, he must sign a waiver of extradition.
Gieser came to Caledonia in 1979 with a music education degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. He taught music here for 26 years.
Maug makes first appearance
Leon Cheston Maug, 29, Spring Grove, made his first court appearance on sexual assault charges on August 2.
Judge Fabian set unconditional bail at $25,000. Maug was released on several conditions, including that he have no contact with anyone under age 18 other than family members, and that he not go to places where children are likely to be.
Maugís next court appearance is August 16 at 9 a.m.
He faces six felony charges. One charge against Maug alleges he inappropriately touched a boy under age 13 while he was baby-sitting the boy at the boys home in Caledonia, sometime between 1999 and 2001. The other five charges against Maug state that criminal sexual conduct against a girl took place while he baby-sat her when she lived in Caledonia and Spring Grove when she was 7-9 years old.
Another person, Christopher Thomas Peterson, 26, whereabouts unknown, was also charged with two felony sexual assault counts at the same time as was Maug. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Braser pleads guilty
A La Crosse area juvenile charged with multiple crimes related to a July 20 burglary pled guilty on August 2.
Andrew Paul Brase, 17, La Crosse, pled guilty to burglary in the first degree, theft of a controlled substance, both felonies; and misdemeanor theft. Charges of possession of a controlled substance in the fifth degree, and second degree burlary were dropped.
Judge Fabian set sentencing for September 13 at 2:30 p.m.
Brase was caught in the act of the alleged burglary by a rural La Crescent homeowner and her 15-year-old son. She called 9-1-1 on her cell phone, and authorities arrested Brase and the driver of the car, William John Peck, five miles away.
Peck, 17, also of La Crosse, pled not guilty on July 26 to the same charges, plus driving after suspension. He has requested a jury trial; no date for that has been set yet.
Wynn pleads guilty
Jeffrey Scott Wynn, 55, Victoria, Minnesota, pled guilty on August 2 to making a terroristic threat. One felony count of terroristic threat was dropped in the plea agreement.
Judge James Fabian ordered a pre-sentence investigation and set sentencing for September 13 at 9 a.m.
Wynn, who formerly lived in Caledonia, was charged on October 25, 2005, with making threats to his former wife and another man from July 11-October 4. According to the criminal complaint, the threats included statements that he would kill his ex-wife and get rid of or injure the man.
Caledonia Argus
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