By LeAnn R. Ralph
CHIPPEWA FALLS — A 52-year-old Colfax man has been sentenced to 15 months in jail and five years of probation on one felony count of child enticement with sexual contact and one misdemeanor count of fourth degree sexual assault.
Joseph V. Schindler appeared in Chippewa County Circuit Court on February 4 with his attorney, Harry R. Hertel, for a sentencing hearing before Judge James Isaacson.
Schindler, 4674 100th Avenue, Colfax, pleaded no contest to the charges on January 10, and Judge Isaacson accepted the no contest plea and found Schindler guilty.
Schindler was sentenced to six months in jail on the child enticement charge, to be served consecutively to a sentence of nine months in jail on the fourth degree sexual assault charge.
Judge Isaacson also ordered Schindler to complete a sex offender assessment and to register as a sex offender.
In addition, Judge Isaacson ordered Schindler to complete a mental health evaluation and to complete any recommended counseling or treatment.
Schindler was ordered by the court, to have no contact with the victim or the victim’s family.
According to news reports, Schindler inappropriately touched a juvenile boy in 2015.
Child enticement is a Class D felony that carries a maximum penalty, upon conviction, of a fine of up to $100,000 and/or 25 years in prison.
The Chippewa County district attorney had initially filed charges on two counts of the second degree sexual assault of a child and two counts of child enticement with sexual contact.
The February 4 sentencing hearing was the second day of a sentencing hearing that had been called to order on January 31 and then was adjourned to February 4.
The amended complaint was filed with the court during the plea hearing January 10.
According to court records, Schindler had been scheduled for a 12-person jury trial three different times: January 31, 2019; July 31, 2018; and March 15, 2018.
At a court hearing in Chippewa County February 14, 2017, bail was set for Schindler with a $2,000 signature bond.
Judge Isaacson ordered Schindler to pay court costs of $443 on Count 2 and $518 on Count 1.
Schindler was required to report to jail by 5 p.m. February 11 and has been granted Huber privileges for work release.
He was also ordered by the court to submit a DNA sample.
