Fort man found guilty of causing mental harm to a child

By Kim McDarison

A 37-year-old Fort Atkinson man has been found guilty of two felony F counts of causing mental harm to a child, according to information released Friday through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website. 

Appearing Friday before Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Robert Dehring, Donald Reynolds was sentenced to 10 years for each count, to be served concurrently, with an initial term of confinement in prison of five years and a maximum time served of five years under extended supervision. 

Additionally, court records state that any other “sentence in being” will be served by the defendant consecutively.  

The two sentences to be served concurrently commenced “forthwith,” with the court granting eight days credit for time already served. 

Court records further state that the defendant is not eligible for the Challenge Incarceration Program, also known as “boot camp,” and is not eligible for the Earner Release/Substance Abuse Program. 

As part of its condition for extended supervision, the court ordered that the defendant have no contact with individuals identified as “Victim 1” and “Witness 1,” and that he undergo assessment, treatment or counseling, and comply with the sex offender reporting requirements as set forth by the state of Wisconsin. 

The court stipulated that “as the underlying conduct in this matter was sexually motivated as defined by state statute … and it would be in the interest of public protection to have the defendant report (as cited by state statute) the defendant shall comply with said reporting requirement for 15 years after discharge from extended supervision.” 

Reynolds also was ordered to comply with DNA sample provision upon demand and pay costs, fees and surcharges, including a DNA surcharge, which, the record noted, is $518 for each count. 

Reynolds was charged with causing mental harm to a child on June 25, 2021, according to the circuit court website. 

Reynolds entered a guilty plea on both counts with the court on Oct. 13, 2022. 

On March 8, 2022, Reynolds was charged in Jefferson county with 12 felony D counts of possession of child pornography. 

Information released on the circuit court access site states that all 12 counts were dismissed on Oct. 13, 2022, but read into the record as a matter of consideration. 

Additionally, court records show that Reynolds was charged on Dec. 14, 2021 with one felony B count of 1st Degree child sex assault/sexual contact with a person under the age of 13. 

The charges were filed in Juneau County with Judge Paul S. Curran presiding. 

The record states that charges in Juneau County were dismissed and “consolidated into a different county,” on Nov. 10, 2022.

In June of this year, during a preliminary hearing, Reynolds entered a plea of not guilty and the court scheduled a status hearing for Aug. 30, 2022. Reynolds and his attorney, Nathan Tierney Otis, appeared by phone, the court documents state. A return date was scheduled for Nov. 23. 

On Nov. 10, 2022, a motion to dismiss was filed and accepted by the court, court records show. 

An earlier story reporting not guilty pleas entered by Reynolds regarding the 12 possession of child pornography counts is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/elementor-68150/. 

File photo, public domain. 

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