Wheeler man found guilty of misdemeanor battery in child abuse case
By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — A 37-year-old Wheeler man pleaded no contest and was found guilty of an amended charge of misdemeanor battery in connection with the abuse of a child at Pafko Park in Boyceville.
Wayne A. Englin appeared in Dunn County Circuit Court with his attorney, Daniel Chapman, before Judge James Peterson August 8 to enter his plea of no contest.
Judge Peterson accepted the plea and found Englin guilty of the amended charge of misdemeanor battery.
Englin originally was charged with one felony count of child abuse.
Judge Peterson withheld sentence and placed Englin on 12 months of probation with one day of credit for jail time already served.
In addition, Judge Peterson sentenced Englin to ten days in jail with Huber privileges as a condition of probation.
Englin must report to the Dunn County Jail by October 6 at 5 p.m.
The judge assessed court costs of $243 and a DNA surcharge of $200.
According to the criminal complaint, Boyceville Police Chief Greg Lamkin was advised May 8 of a possible child abuse victim at an emergency room for an incident that had occurred at Pafko Park.
Englin told investigators he had been roughhousing with the victim, and Englin had hit his head.
Police Chief Lamkin observed two marks on the back of Englin’s head and a mark on the inside of his knee.
Englin told investigators he and the child began slapping at each other.
Deputy Feeney observed dark purple bruising on the child and that the child’s ears were bruised on the inner wall, behind the ear, and the ears were swollen.
A physician who had examined the child said the injuries were consistent with someone pulling hard on the child’s ears, and it was his opinion the injuries were not self-inflicted.
Deputies also noticed the child had a bruise on the small of the back and bruises on the arms that looked like fingerprints.
Englin was released from custody May 9 on a $1,000 signature bond with the condition that he was to have no contact with the child.
