August 19, 2019 at 4:25 p.m.
Rhinelander man facing child porn charges draws 21-month jail sentence in battery case
Rhinelander man facing child porn charges draws 21-month jail sentence in battery case
Skylar Sann was sentenced to a total of 21 months in jail on a probation revocation in a 2018 case in which he pled guilty to misdemeanor charges of battery with a domestic abuse enhancer and three counts of bail jumping.
Sann was sentenced to two years probation on the charges and a given a delayed entry of judgement (DEJ) on a felony count of third degree sexual assault with a (domestic abuse/sexual assault). One count of bail jumping was also dismissed as part of the plea agreement finalized in May 2018.
He was originally charged with second-degree sexual assault (domestic abuse - sexual assault) - a Class C felony, battery (domestic abuse), and four counts of misdemeanor bail jumping. According to the criminal complaint, a woman reported Sann struck her with a closed fist numerous times on Jan. 7, 2018 and threatened to keep doing so until she had sex with him.
She told police she complied with his demands because she feared for her life.
According to the complaint, the victim report Sann became angry because he believed she had allowed one of her friends to "disrespect" him.
Sann told her he was going to beat her and have one of his friends rape her, she told police.
He "repeatedly approached her and punched her on the top of the head with a closed fist," the complaint said.
Sann removed the battery from the victim's cellphone and took her to the bedroom, where he pinned her down and struck her repeatedly, the complaint states.
He would cover her face and state things like "I'm going to knock you out" and "Should I suffocate you?" according to the complaint.
The victim told police she had symptoms of dizziness, nausea, difficulty seeing straight, poor balance and bumps on her head a few days after the incident. Investigators also noticed bruising on her arm, leg, hip, ear and cheek, the complaint notes.
When officers located Sann and confronted him with the woman's accusations he stated "he did not know what happened and that he had blacked out that day because he was using bath salts," according to the complaint.
On March 12, 2019 Sann was charged with lewd, lascivious behavior-exposure and felony bail jumping in connection with an incident at the Oneida County jail where he allegedly repeatedly exposed himself to his cellmate.
On May 30, he was charged with possession of child pornography (lifetime supervision of sex offenders) and felony bail jumping.
While the two 2019 cases are still pending, Sann's probation agent sought revocation on the 2018 case.
Assistant district attorney Jillian Pfeifer told Judge Patrick O'Melia that the incident on Jan. 7, 2018 was very serious..
"This was a very violent sexual assault, I'm aware of that. But the defendant has struggled with AODA issues over the past couple years which has been the common denominator in all of these cases, and he has two cases pending" Pfeifer said. "I have not made any decision on rescinding the DEJ yet."
She then asked O'Melia to sentence Sann to six months in jail on each of the four misdemeanors, with the sentences to run consecutively.
Sann's attorney Ronald Colwell started his sentencing argument by explaining his client's background, including that both of his parents have battled addiction.
He also stated Sann was the victim of abuse in his youth. Despite Sann's own substance abuse problems, he is not afraid to work hard, his attorney said.
When given the chance to speak on his own behalf, Sann declined.
O'Melia said the history that Colwell recited explains a lot about Sann's frequent brushes with the criminal justice system.
"But at some point, you have to be held accountable for your own actions," the judge told Sann. "You're in a rut, basically. But it's up to you to get out."
As part of his incarceration, Sann would be given the opportunity to get treatment to help him overcome his drug addiction, the judge said. He also said that the sexual assault on which Sann received the DEJ was very serious and that type of behavior would not be tolerated.
"At some point, it's going to be a prison recommendation," O'Melia said.
He faces up to 10 years in prison if the DEJ is revoked.
O'Melia then ordered the 21-month jail sentence.
On Friday afternoon, Sann again appeared before O'Melia for adjourned initial appearances on the two open cases, but was told the judge was having trouble finding a court-appointed attorney to represent him.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 9.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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