(DrydenWire.com) -- A five day jury trial has been scheduled in a Burnett County criminal case resulting from the death of a 10-week old infant in February 2016.
Online circuit court records show that on September 7, Jesse Marek appeared in Burnett County Circuit Court regarding his criminal charges of Class C Felony Child Abuse-Intentionally Cause Great Bodily Harm (Party to a Crime) and Class E Felony Child Abuse-Recklessly Cause Great Harm.
The Court scheduled Marek’s case for a five day jury trial to begin on April 29, 2019.
DrydenWire.com previously reported (see below) that charges were filed against Marek and Samantha Stoeklen following an investigation into the death of their 10-week old infant. Criminal complaints filed against Marek and Stoeklen state that on February 1, 2016, the infant was brought to the Burnett Medical Center after Marek found the infant limp, unresponsive, and barely breathing.
The infant was transferred to St. Paul Children’s Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
An autopsy was conducted on the infant by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office. According to the criminal complaints, the autopsy report stated that the injuries sustained by the infant were consistent with injuries caused by abuse such as forceful squeezing. The autopsy report also stated that there were injuries on the infant that were in various stages of healing, indicating that they were the result of multiple traumatic events, starting as early as weeks 1 through 3 of the infant’s life.
According to online circuit court records, Stoeklen’s charges were dismissed by a motion of the Burnett County District Attorney’s Office in November 2017. Details of that Motion are not known to DrydenWire.com at this time.
Marek is scheduled to appear on April 1, 2019 for a Final Pre-Trial hearing on his case. If convicted as charged, Marek faces a possible maximum sentence of 40 years confinement in state prison.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
**Previous Post**
Signature Bonds Ordered for Burnett County Couple Charged With Causing Infant's Death
Tuesday, May 30, 2017 | DrydenWire.com
According to public record Jesse Marek and Samantha Stoeklen, both of Grantsburg, WI, appeared in Burnett County Circuit Court on May 24, 2017, and the Court placed both of them on signature bonds regarding their felony charges stemming from the death of their infant child.
DrydenWire.com reported on this story on April 4, 2017. The death of an infant had been reported to Burnett County Law Enforcement after an infant was brought to Burnett Medical Center for emergency care on February 1, 2016, because Marek had found the infant limp, unresponsive and barely breathing. The infant later was transferred to St. Paul Children's Hospital where he was ultimately pronounced deceased.
According to the criminal complaint, an autopsy was completed by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office. The autopsy report revealed that the infant had suffered multiple injuries, including heart damage, internal bleeding, multiple rib fractures, and injuries to his upper lip.
Criminal charges of Class C Felony Child Abuse – Intentionally Cause Great Bodily Harm were filed against both Marek and Stoeklen.
Public record shows that both Marek and Stoeklen appeared in Burnett County Circuit Court on May 24, 2017, for their initial appearances on these charges. The Court set $5,000 signature bonds for each of them.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
**Previous Post**
Burnett County Couple Charged with Causing Death of 10-Week-Old Child
Tuesday, April 4, 2017 | DrydenWire.com
Criminal charges were filed in Burnett County Circuit Court on March 27, 2017, against Jesse Marek and Samantha Stoeklen, both of Grantsburg, WI, following an investigation into the death of their infant in February 2016.
On February 2, 2016, Burnett County Law Enforcement were called to investigate the suspicious death of a 10-week old infant, born November 11, 2015. A Polk County Investigator assisted with interviews of the two parents.
According to the criminal complaints filed against Marek and Stoeklen, the infant was brought to the Burnett Medical Center on February 1, 2016, after the father found the infant limp, unresponsive and barely breathing. The father said that he attempted mouth to mouth CPR and a few chest compressions and then brought the infant in for medical care. The infant was transferred to St. Paul Children's Hospital where he was ultimately pronounced deceased.
The Ramsey County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy on the infant. The criminal complaints state that the autopsy report revealed that the infant had suffered heart damage, internal bleeding, and injuries to his upper lip. The autopsy also found that the infant had sustained multiple rib fractures that were all in various stages of healing.
Further details of the autopsy report included in the criminal complaints state that the injuries sustained by the infant were consistent with injuries caused by abuse, such as forceful squeezing, and were not indicative of accidental injury. The various stages of healing of the injuries indicated that these injuries were the result of multiple traumatic events (at least three and possibly as many as five) within the infant's ten-week life. The first injuries were estimated to have occurred between one and three weeks of age.
When investigators interviewed Stoeklen, she said that her pregnancy with the infant had been unexpected, as she had been on birth control. The criminal complaint continues stating that Stoeklen told investigators that Marek wanted her to get an abortion, however, she declined to do that. Marek told investigators during an interview that the infant had rolled off the couch. Even after it was explained to him that 10-week old infants do not 'roll', he maintained his story. Investigators told Marek that even if the infant had rolled off the couch, such an incident would not have caused the injuries discovered during the autopsy.
Investigators also confirmed that Marek and Stoeklen were the primary caregivers for the infant. Marek's mother had watched the infant on two occasions; no one else had babysat for the infant.
The criminal complaint further states that Jesse also admitted to investigators that he has a 'temper'.
Marek and Stoeklen are each charged with one count of Child Abuse – Intentionally Cause Great Bodily Harm, a Class C Felony. If convicted of these charges, Marek and Stoeklen could face a maximum sentence of 40 years confinement in state prison.
Pursuant to the direction of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, as found in Supreme Court Rule 20:3.6, Trial Publicly, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
Last Update: Sep 11, 2018 5:33 pm CDT
