August 18, 2015 at 10:43 a.m.
Three Lakes man charged with having sex with 14-year-old
Monte A. Bartelt appeared before Branch I Judge Patrick O'Melia Aug. 12 charged with repeated sexual assault of a child, a class C felony punishable by up to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000.
According to the criminal complaint, the mother of the alleged victim contacted Three Lakes Police on Aug. 1 to report the alleged sexual relationship. When a female officer made contact with the alleged victim's mother, the woman told the officer the girl had walked in on her having sex with Bartelt the day before. The mother told the officer the girl didn't act uncomfortable, but "got really angry with her and was acting jealous," the officer wrote in a report attached to the criminal complaint.
The mother questioned the child who eventually admitted that she had been having consensual sex with Bartelt for several months, the last time on July 29.
Under Wisconsin law, minors under the age of 18 cannot legally consent to sex.
When the officer talked to the alleged victim, the teen told her that she and Bartelt had sex numerous times over several months and that he was "initiator every time," according to the report. She told the officer that Bartelt made her promise not to tell anyone about their activities "because he would lose everything." According to the report, the alleged victim was upset that her mother had called the police and did not want Bartelt to get into trouble.
Bartelt, who is on probation for a previous conviction in Oneida County, was picked up on a Department of Corrections apprehension warrant later on Aug. 1.
Citing the age of the alleged victim, the repeated and extended nature of the alleged relationship, and Bartelt's previous lengthy criminal history, Oneida County district attorney Michael Schiek requested a cash bond.
When O'Melia set the $20,000 cash bond, Bartelt asked if it could be reduced, noting "I don't have any means to pay anything nearly that high."
O'Melia told him the purpose of bond is to ensure the accused will show up in court, and given the seriousness of the charge and the possible prison time Bartelt is facing, "$20,000 is about as low as this court is willing to go."
Bartelt was scheduled to make an adjourned initial appearance Aug. 17.
Jamie Taylor may be reached at [email protected].
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