December 5, 2014 at 4:49 p.m.
Nokomis man accused of domestic abuse now facing sexual assault charge
Nokomis man accused of domestic abuse now facing sexual assault charge
Terry A. Luecht made his initial appearance on the new charge, a class G felony which carries a maximum prison term of 10 years, Thursday before Oneida County Circuit Judge Patrick O'Melia.
In a separate case filed Monday, Luecht has been charged with strangulation and suffocation, a class H felony, as well as battery and disorderly conduct. The last two charges are misdemeanors. All three charges carry the domestic abuse enhancer which results in an additional fine upon conviction. He faces up to six years in prison if convicted of strangulation and suffocation.
In the sexual assault case, Luecht is alleged to have groped a woman under her clothes and forced her to perform sex acts, according to the complaint.
Sheriff's deputies learned about the alleged assaults while investigating the domestic abuse complaint, court records state.
Police began investigating Luecht for domestic abuse after receiving a phone call from a juvenile who is related to two women with whom Luecht resides.
The juvenile reported she had received several text messages and telephone calls from the two women over several months alleging that Luecht was abusing them, according to the criminal complaint.
Deputies spoke with one of the women who stated that Luecht had physically abused her. She told deputies Luecht struck her and choked her while saying "I will put you out of your misery." That woman also reported that she witnessed Luecht sexually assault the other woman. The other woman confirmed the report, according to the complaint.
Luecht was "not very pleasant" when he was arrested on the domestic abuse charge but denied striking anyone, the complaint states. Following his initial appearance on the domestic abuse charge, Luecht was to be released on a $3,500 signature bond with the condition that he have no contact with the woman who reported the choking other than by telephone to work out living arrangements.
However, during Thursday's hearing on the sexual assault charge, it was reported that Luecht was not released. He was held pending investigation of the sexual assault allegations. He told O'Melia he had not been able to contact the public defender's office to obtain representation in either case.
O'Melia increased the signature bond to $5,000 with the condition that he have no contact whatsoever with either woman.
Luecht will be back in court on Jan. 5 for an adjourned initial appearance on both files.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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