Hattula pleads not guilty to three felonies

Wesley D. Hattula, 21, of Oakdale, currently incarcerated, entered not guilty pleas to three felony counts when he was arraigned by the Honorable Mark Johnson in the Antelope County district courtroom last Wednesday, May 27.

Hattula's court-appointed attorney, Pat Carney of Norfolk appeared in the courtroom, while Hattula appeared via video conference from the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center. Hattula is charged with incest, a Class 2A felony; manufacture of child pornography, a Class 1D felony; and possession of child pornography, a Class 4 felony, all alleged April 21. The penalty for conviction of a Class 2A felony is up to 20 years imprisonment; a Class 1D felony, a maximum of 50 years, with a mandatory minimum of three years; and for a Class 4 felony, up to two years imprisonment, with up to one year post-release supervision, or a $10,000 fine or both.

Pretrial proceedings are set June 24 and a jury trial, July 21. A $100,000, 10% cash, bond is continued, with a condition for no contact with anyone under 18, either direct or indirect.

According to a probable-cause for detention affidavit filed in the case, Hattula was at the Antelope County Law Enforcement Center in Neligh updating information for the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry on April 24, when a call came in reporting the allegations involving a juvenile family member.

He was interviewed by officers and allowed them to access to his cell phone, which allegedly contained photos of the juvenile, who was subsequently interviewed at the Northeast Nebraska Child Advocacy Center in Norfolk.

According to the Sex Offender Registry website, Hattula is a lifetime registrant, convicted in March 2011 of felony aggravated criminal sexual abuse in Stephenson County, Illinois.

Johnson sustained motions to continue several criminal cases to June 24.

Jeremy J. Mathrole, 40, of Crofton was granted a continuance for pretrial hearing on two Class 3A felony counts of violating the Nebraska Sexual Offender Registration Act. Jury trial remains on the July 21 district court docket. Bond filed March 9, in the amount of $10,000, 10%, is continued. Mathrole is represented by Carney.

Roger D. Stuckwisch, 78, of Tilden was also granted continuance of pretrial proceedings, with a jury trial slated to begin July 21. The prosecutor estimated one week to present the case at trial. Stuckwisch is charged with 12 counts of sexual assault of a child, five first degree and seven third degree. The alleged crimes were committed between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2016, involving seven victims under the age of 14. Convictions would result in up to life in prison, with a mandatory minimum of 15-years, hard (no parole during first 15 years) on the first-degree sexual assault of a child charges and up to three years, $10,000 fine and 18 months post-release supervision for each of the third-degree charges. Stuckwisch entered not guilty pleas to all 12 counts in February. He is represented by Carney.

Sentencing for Timothy N. Grothe, 57, of Elgin, is continued. Grothe pleaded no contest in April to violating terms of probation ordered in two 2018 felony cases. Grothe is represented by Mark Porto of Grand Island.

County prosecutor Joe Abler addressed the judge, advising he will file a dismissal of charges against a South Dakota man, Matthew C. Waters, 34, upon payment of costs. The dismissal is part of a plea agreement reached in Pierce County district court, where he is set for sentencing July 7. Waters was charged in both counties after leading officers on a multicounty pursuit last November that ended with his arrest near the junction of highways 20 and 14. He is represented by Timothy Noerrlinger of Lincoln.