DARLINGTON - A Shullsburg man was sentenced Monday in Lafayette County Circuit Court to three years in prison for unwanted sexual contact with a 16-year-old farmhand in the Town of New Diggings in 2015.
Charles W. Edge, 65, formerly of Mineral Point, pleaded no contest to a Class D felony count of child enticement, a Class I felony count of exposing genitals to a child and a Class A misdemeanor count of sex with a child age 16 or older. Charges of third- and fourth-degree sexual assault were dismissed.
Judge Duane Jorgenson ordered Edge to spend five years on extended supervision after his prison sentence.
Jorgenson said that even though it was not a violent crime, Edge's excuse that he was "doing the wrong thing for the right reason" was wrong.
But Jorgenson said he was also struck by the number of letters of support he received for Edge from his family and the community, many stating that they could not believe Edge committed the crime and that he was an upstanding citizen of the community.
The case stems from a series of incidents in December 2015 at Edge's son's farm in the Town of New Diggings.
A 16-year-old working on the farm told police that Edge had attempted to touch his genitals several times. One day, he said Edge took him to a secluded area in the milk house and reached into the boy's pants to touch his genitals and removed the boy's pants against his will, then initiated oral sex with him despite the boy's repeated objections.
The victim told police Edge said he wanted to help the teen "get in touch with his feelings."
Edge is ordered to have no contact with the victim or the victim's family, to register as a sex offender and to complete sex offender treatment.
State court records show no criminal history for Edge. In September, he and his wife filed jointly for a divorce.
Charles W. Edge, 65, formerly of Mineral Point, pleaded no contest to a Class D felony count of child enticement, a Class I felony count of exposing genitals to a child and a Class A misdemeanor count of sex with a child age 16 or older. Charges of third- and fourth-degree sexual assault were dismissed.
Judge Duane Jorgenson ordered Edge to spend five years on extended supervision after his prison sentence.
Jorgenson said that even though it was not a violent crime, Edge's excuse that he was "doing the wrong thing for the right reason" was wrong.
But Jorgenson said he was also struck by the number of letters of support he received for Edge from his family and the community, many stating that they could not believe Edge committed the crime and that he was an upstanding citizen of the community.
The case stems from a series of incidents in December 2015 at Edge's son's farm in the Town of New Diggings.
A 16-year-old working on the farm told police that Edge had attempted to touch his genitals several times. One day, he said Edge took him to a secluded area in the milk house and reached into the boy's pants to touch his genitals and removed the boy's pants against his will, then initiated oral sex with him despite the boy's repeated objections.
The victim told police Edge said he wanted to help the teen "get in touch with his feelings."
Edge is ordered to have no contact with the victim or the victim's family, to register as a sex offender and to complete sex offender treatment.
State court records show no criminal history for Edge. In September, he and his wife filed jointly for a divorce.