Antigo man who beat child, age 3, is heading to prison Sept. 12, 2008 Ronald J. Hogy, who was put into a Langlade County jail cell just under 250 days ago, got another two-plus years in the tough Wisconsin prison system Thursday from Langlade County Circuit Court Judge Fred Kawalski.
It was a situation that could only be explained by the old saying, a picture is worth a thousand words.
The case dates to Sept. 22, 2007 when the county’s law enforcement dispatch center was informed about a case of possible child abuse. The call had come from outside a downtown residential hotel, and the man who made it was waiting for authorities with one male youngster and two females.
Officers noticed that the boy was showing signs of a beating and the investigation was underway. It led to a home at 1025 Second Ave. and what Kawalski called nothing short of “torture” for the children.
It was a series of photographs of the then three-year-old boy that provided those “thousand word’ pictures.
“There is nothing more difficult to put someone in jail but we must take every measure that this never happens again,” Kawalski said.
According to the criminal complaint that was drafted by District Attorney Ralph Uttke, the complainant outside that hotel explained that Hogy had been drinking and went to the second story of the home to check if the youngster was doing his “punishment.”
Apparently the rules of that punishment were not being followed and a beating — quite severe judging by the pictures, ensued and it included hits with closed fists to different parts of the body— including the face. The photos, taken a day later, showed multiple bruises about the boy’s head but medical testimony at trial indicated that there were no broken bones.
According to that complaint, the mother of the children did nothing to stop the attacks, and she was processed through the county’s criminal court system.
Hogy worked through the criminal court process, represented by Attorney Joseph Kaupie and a jury trial on April 22, where he was convicted of physical abuse of a child.
After his conviction, he was looking at a maximum fine of $10,000, six years in prison or both.
At the sentencing hearing Thursday afternoon, Kawalski heard recommendations from Uttke, who suggested that the investigation into Hogy by the Wisconsin Department of Probation and Parole, suggested a three-year prison term.
He also heard an appeal by Hogy’s newly hired attorney Brian Bennett, who asked for a time-served jail term with strict supervision that could last three years.
“The court has already looked at the case and decided the proper punishment,” Bennett said, explaining that it should mirror the probation-based sentence ordered for the child’s mother
Providing photos which showed his client in positive interactions with children and following complimentary testimony by two family members, Bennett suggested that Hogy’s problems began only after he had met the child’s mother.
“Ron made some bad decisions and most were linked to his relationship with (the child’s mother),” Bennett said.
He also focused on the charge in point.
“Testimony at trial didn’t show a pattern of abuse,” Bennett argued, adding that his client, a former volunteer firefighter, had no juvenile or past adult criminal record.
“We need to look at what this has cost him. His reputation, his jobs and his children,” he said.
Uttke countered, calling the case “one of the more serious varieties of child abuse” he has prosecuted.
He spoke about the victim himself and described the punishment which superseded the beating along with allegations made by other youngsters within the home. They included children standing with their arms above their head or standing in cold buckets of water, both for hours at a time.
The initial complainant advised that it was the former which the boy was forced to perform and when he failed, he was dragged down the stairway, slammed up against a couch and punched several times.
“This was a violent, brutal injury to a young child,” Uttke said.
Although maintaining his innocence, Hogy said he was saddened that it was his “bad decisions,” including his alcohol abuse, which put him behind bars.
“Jail is a very scary place,” he said.
Hogy also asked for a second chance to prove his worth to the community.
“I wish I could change everything,” he said.
In his ruling, Kawalski traced his reasoning which included considerations on the seriousness of the offense, the defendant’s character and the need to protect the community.
“One would have to be heartless not to be emotional about what happened,” he said, recalling that upon seeing photos of the injured boy at trial, several jurors winced.
“It is shocking to the conscious of almost everyone in this courtroom,” the judge said.
He also spoke to the uncharged allegations of additional abuse provided by the children to the Department of Social Services.
“These children were living in a virtual hell,” he said. “We must ensure that we do not expose any children to this type of abuse.”
At completion of his three year term, minus 247 days of time served, Hogy will remain under supervision for another three years. During that time, is to have no unsupervised contact with anyone under the age of 18, no contact with the children involved in the case and obtain alcohol treatment. He must also maintain sobriety and maintain a stable residence and employment.
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