Judge Stays Prison Term in Incest Case
By Rob Young
Originally published in the Herald Times Reporter, March 9, 2002
MANITOWOC — A 53-year-old Maribel-area farmer was sentenced Friday to a year in jail and 10 years of probation for sexually assaulting his two daughters and a son between 1989 and 1998.
Manitowoc County Circuit Judge Fred Hazlewood stayed a 15-year prison sentence for Roger R. Wegner, 14113 Pleasant Road. Wegner could have been sent to prison for as long as 40 years.
One daughter told authorities Wegner assaulted her several times a month in 1989 and 1990.
The other daughter said she was assaulted five to 10 times a month in 1990 and 1991.
Both were under 13 at the time.
The son said he was assaulted in 1997 and 1998 when he was between 14 and 16 years old.
Hazlewood called the assaults "pretty much near the top of serious offenses" but said Wegner is a good candidate for rehabilitation.
A former state Department of Corrections psychologist, Gerald Wellens, testified that one evaluation indicated less than a 10 percent chance Wegner will become a repeat offender.
A second test indicated a 24 percent chance, he said.
Perpetrators of incest generally have a low recidivism rate, Wellens said.
Wegner continued the assaults even though one of the children resisted and his family confronted him. After his arrest, he violated a court order by calling one of the daughters in an attempt to discourage her from testifying.
Assistant District Attorney Doug Jones said Wegner estimated committing far fewer assaults than the daughters said happened, possibly indicating Wegner denies the seriousness of the crime.
But the minister of a Maribel church said Wegner, a long-time member, feels responsible and remorseful.
Wegner called his acts terrible crimes that never should have happened and apologized for the "hurt and pain" he caused his family.
His attorney, Mark R. Rohrer, said Wegner has "done a horrible wrong but takes responsibility."
Hazlewood said such acts often rob children of their childhood and may leave them feeling at fault.
"If you go to seek help, bad things will happen to your dad," Hazelwood said.
The victims were "pretty much helpless," he said.
"This is permanent damage," the judge said.
As conditions of probation, Hazlewood ordered Wegner to attend group sex offender treatment, not have unsupervised contact with minors and avoid pornography and alcohol.
A violation could lead to imposition of the 15-year sentence, he said.
