By LeAnn R. Ralph
MENOMONIE — A Wheeler couple has been charged with 37 felonies all together related to child sexual assault and possession of child pornography.
Wayne A. Englin, 39, and Michelle S. Englin, 40, made an initial appearance in Dunn County Circuit Court before Judge James Peterson on May 17.
Wayne Englin is charged with 30 felony counts, including 14 felonies related to the repeated sexual assault of a child, two felony counts of child enticement with sexual contact, two felony counts of causing mental harm to a child, one felony count of failing to protect a child, one felony count of neglecting a child, and 10 felony counts of possessing child pornography.
Judge Peterson set a $200,000 cash bail for Wayne Englin on May 13.
Michelle Englin is charged with seven felony counts all together, four counts related to the sexual assault of a child, one felony count of child enticement with sexual contact, one felony count of failing to prevent mental harm to a child and one felony count of neglecting a child.
Judge Peterson set a $50,000 cash bail for Michelle Englin on May 13.
The judge also issued an order for a competency evaluation for Michelle Englin May 20, and an evaluation of competency status conference is scheduled in Dunn County Circuit Court June 3.
Wayne Englin was scheduled for a preliminary hearing in the case May 24.
Michelle and Wayne Englin have both asked for a speedy trial.
Dunn County District Attorney Andrea Nodolf plans to seek lifetime supervision of a sex offender if Wayne Englin is convicted of the charges.
Facebook
A Dunn County Sheriff’s Department investigator received a tip on March 20 of this year from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating that on January 23, Facebook had flagged a photograph as apparent child pornography, according to the criminal complaint.
The investigator then received four additional tips all associated with the original tip. The tips referenced images originating from five different Facebook accounts.
A subpoena from Charter Communications revealed the IP address for Internet access was assigned to Wayne Englin with an address on Hillside Drive South in the Village of Wheeler, the complaint states.
The investigator obtained a search warrant for Englin’s address that was executed May 8. Wayne Englin and his wife, Michelle, were both at the residence at the time the search warrant was executed.
In addition to a cell phone and computer tablets, investigators discovered numerous pairs of juvenile female underwear with the names written on the inside of the underwear in three different locations in the residence, even though no female juveniles live at the residence, according to the complaint.
Searches
Wayne Englin told investigators he would search for pornography involving individuals 18 years of age and also admitted he viewed nude pictures of young children under the age of 18.
Englin told investigators images would be sent through Facebook Messenger, and the age category would be teens or children 10 years old, the complaint states.
Most of the juvenile photographs came through one Facebook account, and there were more than 100 pictures, with the picture of the youngest child being around five years old, Englin said, according to the complaint.
A Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) analyst advised Dunn County investigators he had previewed and located apparent child pornography on Englin’s cell phone and had burned those images to a DVD for the purpose of evidence, the complaint states.
Blackouts
In a subsequent interview with Wayne Englin, investigators asked about an incident with a juvenile girl and her bellybutton, and Englin said he had played with the girl’s bellybutton. Englin also told investigators he has a history of drinking and would have days during which he would not remember what happened, according to the complaint.
At times, Englin said, he would sober up and would feel as if he had done something he should not have done. Englin also, however, denied touching anyone inappropriately or showing anyone inappropriate images, the complaint states.
Investigators determined the Englins had moved to Wheeler in 2014.
The alleged sexual assault victims are a teenaged boy and a toddler.
The criminal complaint includes descriptions of 10 pornographic images of what are described as “prepubescent females.”
The potential penalties in the Wayne Englin case, upon conviction, include over 900 years in prison and/or $1.7 million in fines.
News release
According to a news release from the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department, the investigation remains open and active as the sheriff’s department attempts to identify any additional possible victims in this case.
If you have any information pertinent to the case involving the Englins, you are asked to contact the Dunn County Sheriff’s Department at 715-232-1348.
