A Barron County Judge sentenced George Phelps, III of Webster, WI to 15 years in state prison on November 11th, 2016 for Enticement of a Child to Sexual Contact and 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child.
In January of 2016 charges were filed in Barron County Circuit Court against George Phelps including Using a Computer to Facilitate a Child Sex Crime, Enticement of a Child for Sexual Contact, 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child, Exposing Genitals to a Child, and 2nd Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety.
According to documents filed in public record in Barron County Circuit Court, these charges followed an investigation by the Wisconsin's Department of Justice, Division of Criminal investigation (DCI) assisting Barron Police Department with a possible child sexual exploitation case.
When Special Agents interviewed Phelps, he admitted that throughout the last months of 2014 he utilized the internet and cell phones to make contact with a child in Barron County under the age of 16 and send images of his own genitals as well as coordinate meetings in Barron County with the child. Phelps confessed to agents that he knew the child's age because the child told him. Phelps further confessed to agents that he is HIV-Positive and that he did engage in unprotected sexual contact with the child. These confessions were confirmed through interviews that the Special Agents also conducted with the child.
Public record indicates that at a plea hearing on September 15th, 2016, Phelps plead guilty to the charges of Child Enticement for Sexual Contact and 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child. The charges of Using a Computer to Facilitate a Child Sex Crime, Exposing Genitals to a Child, and 2nd Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety were dismissed but read-in by the Court for consideration in sentencing.
Phelps also had charges filed in Burnett County: Enticement of a Child for Sexual Contact, and Using a Computer to Facilitate a Child Sex Crime. These charges were addressed at Phelp's Barron County plea hearing on September 15th, with public court record notes indicating that those charges would also be dismissed but read-in for sentencing consideration.
A total sentence of 20 years was handed down for Phelp's conviction of Enticement of a Child for Sexual Contact; 10 years initial confinement in state prison, followed by 10 years of extended supervision. Phelps received credit for 81 days served.
For the conviction of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child, Phelps received a total sentence of 15 years; 5 years of confinement in state prison, to be served consecutive to the 10 years on his conviction for Enticement, followed by 10 years of extended supervision, also to be consecutive to the extended supervision ordered on the conviction for Enticement.
Phelps will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Last Update: Nov 13, 2016 8:11 pm CST
