September 20, 2021 at 12:50 p.m.
Laona man receives jail, DEJ in ICAC case
Laona man receives jail, DEJ in ICAC case
Mark C. Burran was charged May 27 with attempting to use a computer to facilitate a child sex crime, attempting to expose a child to harmful descriptions and attempted second degree sexual assault of a child under 16.
A police report attached to the criminal complaint states Burran was arrested in a Rhinelander parking lot on May 25 after engaging in a social media conversation with a sheriff's detective posing as a 15-year-old girl.
According to the complaint, Burran was found with condoms and was carrying a phone that matched the one that was used to communicate with the undercover officer.
When interviewed by police, Burran claimed he was only meeting with "the girl" to convince her to change her ways and not send her life "down the tubes." He admitted to sending "the girl" a photo of his genitals but claimed the purpose was "to keep the conversation going."
Oneida County circuit court Judge Michael Bloom set a $10,000 cash bond at his initial appearance and scheduled the matter for a preliminary hearing on June 1. Instead, public defender Elizabeth Svehlek requested a competency exam be conducted. Bloom agreed, setting a 30-day deadline for the resulting report to be filed.
At a July 12 hearing, Bloom said the report showed that Burran did not lack the mental capacity to understand the gravity of the charges against him and to be able to assist in his defense, and therefore was competent to stand trial.
Svehlek again raised the issue of bond, asking for $1,000 cash with the balance on a surety signed by the defendant's mother. Assistant district attorney Mary Sowinski objected, citing a previous conviction for fourth-degree sexual assault as a prime reason against reducing the bond amount. Bloom denied Svehlek's request.
At the Sept. 14 hearing, Sowinski and Svehlek presented a joint agreement to Bloom. It called for dismissal of the attempted second degree sexual assault of a child charge, while amending the attempting to expose a child to harmful descriptions charge to child enticement if Burran pled guilty or no contest to the two charges.
Also part of the agreement was a joint sentencing recommendation of a delayed entry of judgment on the computer sex crime charge, while withholding sentence on the other count and placing Burran on probation for 10 years. The agreement also included one year in jail in either the Oneida or Brown County jails. He must also register as a sex offender for life.
Bloom went along with the agreement, noting that not only could he sentence Burran on the child enticement charge, a class D felony, he also has the mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison on the DEJ charge to contend with if he breaks the law during his probation.
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