Colfax man convicted of child sex crimes now living in the Town of Tainter
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by LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — A former Colfax man sentenced in 2013 to 14 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision for sex crimes related to minors was released in Menomonie homeless October 8 and is now living in the Town of Tainter.
Michael L. Fodness, age 57, was convicted in Dunn County in September of 2013 on one count of child enticement by selling or giving drugs.
Fodness also was convicted, in two separate cases, in January of 2006 of fourth degree sexual assault and of having sex with a child 16 years or older.
According to a release from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, “On October 8, 2024, Mr. Fodness was released from prison to the City of Menomonie. On today’s date [October 17], we were advised that Fodness would be residing at E5955 CTH D in the (Town) of Tainter. Fodness is on Intensive Supervision, subject to GPS monitoring with geographic restrictions to Dunn County, and is subject to the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry Program for life. The WI Sex Offender Registry can be located at www.appsdoc.wi.gov/public.”
The release goes on to say, “This offender has served the incarceration sentence imposed on him by the courts. He is not wanted by the police at this time. This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.”
The release indicated that Dunn County Sheriff Kevin Bygd released the information pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 301.46(2m) authorizing law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release or relocation when, in the discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety, awareness and protection.
Victim
A woman has contacted the Colfax Messenger who identified herself as a former victim of Fodness’s sexual and psychological abuse and who now identifies herself as a survivor.
The woman, who has remained anonymous, has given enough detail to authenticate her experiences.
In the years since then, the woman has overcome physical health problems, has helped other women experiencing a variety of hardships, has had a successful career and has served as a foster parent for abused children.
Prior to Fodness’s conviction, many girls and young women came forward with their stories of psychological manipulation, the use of drugs for manipulation, and sexual abuse, all with similar details, but none of them were believed for the longest time, the woman said.
The woman said she was 15 years old when she met Fodness — just as many of his other alleged victims were 14 and 15 years old — and feels a certain amount of guilt for not being able to stop him so that he would not victimize other young girls.
The woman said she is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and that while she can manage the symptoms of PTSD, the guilt is more difficult to deal with.
Trial
Judge William Stewart, who presided over the Fodness case in Dunn County Circuit Court, petitioned for a change of venue for the trial in 2013 because he believed it would be difficult to seat a jury in Dunn County due to the number of victims and potential victims.
Judge Stewart’s request was granted, and the trial was held in Rusk County in February of 2013, although the trial ended on the second day with a mis-trial.
Fodness subsequently pleaded guilty in September of 2013 to one felony charge of child enticement by giving or selling drugs, out of a total of 15 charges, and was sentenced to 14 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision.
The charges that were dismissed were entered into the record for sentencing.
More felonies
Fodness also was initially charged with three felony counts of second degree sexual assault of a child; three felony counts of child enticement by exposing a sex organ; two misdemeanor counts of sex with a child age 16 or older as a repeat offender; three misdemeanor counts of bail jumping, one of them as a party to a crime and as a repeat offender; one felony count of intimidating a witness by threatening force as a repeat offender and as a party to a crime; and two felony counts of the repeated sexual assault of the same child.
Judge Rod Smeltzer set bail at $100,000 cash in October of 2010 and ordered Fodness to have no contact with six specific people identified by their initials as well as no contact with girls 18 years old or younger.
Fodness faced a potential sentence of 300 years in prison for his alleged crimes, and the woman who contacted the Messenger said she believes 14 years was not nearly enough to ensure the safety of others.
The survivor of Fodness’s abuse also noted that even today, just because he was not convicted of crimes involving other victims, that some of the survivors are being told since “he wasn’t convicted for you, it didn’t happen.”
Fodness received credit for serving time in the Dunn County Jail for 1,109 days.
During Fodness’s sentencing hearing in 2013, Dunn County Assistant District Attorney Andrew Maki described Fodness as a sociopath.
A sociopath is defined as someone with a mental health condition who disregards the rules and rights of others, who lacks empathy and remorse, who acts impulsively, who lies and manipulates others and who behaves in a way to intentionally upset other people.
The woman who describes herself as a survivor is urging parents and others to remain vigilant, and when children or teenagers tell them that someone makes them feel uncomfortable, or tells them something has happened — believe them.
