The Messenger
of Juneau County
LABOR DAY QUEENS PAGE 12 VOL 14, NO. 26
LOOK INSIDE FOR YOUR LOCAL NEWS:
Elroy: Page 6 Mauston: Page 4 New Lisbon: Page 8
Necedah: Page 9 Wonewoc: Page 14 Hillsboro: Page 12
Kendall: Page 7 Classifieds: Page 15 Legals: Page 16
THE AWARD WINNING OFFICIAL LEGAL NEWSPAPER OF JUNEAU COUNTY
Charges dropped against Becerra BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD In less than one week after outgoing District Attorney Scott Southworth filed child sexual assault charges against Neil J. Becerra, 41, of Necedah, Juneau County's new District Attorney Michael Solovey had the charges dismissed with prejudice. In a press release dated January 15, 2013 the district attorney wrote: "The recent filing and dismissal of criminal charges against Mr. Neil J. Becerra of Necedah involved acts which allegedly occurred 9 years ago; which were referred to the District Attorney's office 4 years ago; and which were filed by the previous District Attorney on January 4, 2013 - the last day of his term. Once prosecution commenced in earnest, it became immediately apparent to law enforcement that there was not sufficient evidence to sustain a prosecution or support a verdict of guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. All parties being in agreement, the matter was forthwith dismissed upon the motion of District Attorney Michael Solovey in the interests of justice." There were very few pages in the file against Becerra at the Clerk of Courts office when the Messenger viewed it. In a case like this, there are normally many pages of material that the Messenger, or the public, will view. As previously reported in the Messenger, in the criminal complaint filed by Southworth it was unclear as to when the allegations were first reported to law enforcement as there were no dates detailing interviews. However, court papers did show that the district attorney's case number dated back to 2009 which indicates that the case was referred to the D.A. then by law enforcement. The alleged acts were noted to have taken place as far back as 1996. The criminal complaint states Juneau County Detective Shaun Goyette was contacted by the victim and her mother. They alleged that Becerra repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl dating back to 1996 when she was just three years old. They further alleged the abuse continued up to 2004. The complaint goes on to state that in 1997 the girl had been examined by a physician because at the time there was a concern she had been sexually abused. Detective Goyette obtained hospital records from the UW Hospital in Madison and upon review of those records they show the exam revealed possible signs of sexual abuse including redness and a break in the hymen. However, the records were not in the file the Messenger viewed. In 2009, then District Attorney Scott Southworth, had filed two cases against Neil J. Becerra. The first being in June of 2009 for failing to provide sex offender's registry information. Becerra is a registered sex offender due to a 2001 charge of felony second degree sexual assault of a child where he plead no contest. No charges were filed at that time of sexual assault of a child. In the 2001 case, and according to file information, the victim was a 14 year old girl who became pregnant after having sexual intercourse with Becerra. The other 2009 case filed by Southworth against Becerra included multiple felony charges of burglary which were eventually dismissed without prejudice during a preliminary hearing and on the prosecutor's motion.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2013
$1.00
Child custody issue turns into missing child report This past weekend a mother of a three year old male child approached the Messenger with a concern that her child was missing and no one was taking her seriously when she reported it. Sara Jensen of Mauston then proceeded to explain that the last time she saw her three year old little boy Logan was on August 16, 2012. Jensen stated that the father of the child, Kevin Tadder, had not returned the child after a visitation. In contacting Mauston Police Department she stated she was told the matter was a custody issue. She then stated she contacted the court appointed guardian ad litem and a motion hearing was held in September. Jensen produced to the Messenger a September 24, 2012 court order stating, "Kevin Tadder is ordered to turn over the child on September 27, 2012 at 5:00 p.m. at Love's Gas Station in Oakdale." Online court records show that Tadder was not present for the hearing and according to Jensen, failed to turn over the child as ordered. "I contacted everyone I could think of," said Jensen, "but they all kept telling me it was a custody issue and I needed to file with the court system. But I had already done that and had the court order." Online court records show that motions for contempt were filed on Jensen's behalf in October of 2012, which was her second attempt at pleading with the court. Jensen stated that she made multiple contacts with the guardian ad litem and the Mauston Police Department in order to get her son back. "At one point I was told
it was a Monroe County issue as that is where the father was living. I feel like no one cares," she stated. There was never a welfare check ordered by the Mauston Police for the child or the Monroe County Police, who do not appear to have had any contact or knowledge of the issue. Jensen went on to state that she has had phone and text message contact with the father but he has refused to turn over the child and would not let her speak to him. On the morning of Monday, January 21, 2013 The Messenger contacted the Mauston Police Department to check on the status of the reports Jensen said she had filed. The officer handling the case Logan, 3, has been missing and assumed to be with was not in and we were his father since August of 2012. told would not be on On Tuesday afternoon office for interference with duty until Wednesday, January 23. We then asked The Messenger contacted child custody.” At the time the Chief Messer after a missto speak to the Chief of Police Mark Messer, and ing child report was on the Messenger went to press were told he was also not WRJC website. It appears late Tuesday, the charges to be the only media had not been filed by in. Later that afternoon we source that received this Juneau County District The Attorney Michael Solovey. received a voicemail mes- information. sage from Chief Messer Messenger inquired on Online records do show when they documented that the father in question where he stated: "In regards to the Jensen Jensen issuing the com- does have a prior criminal complaint that is still plaint. Chief Messer stated history including a 2002 under investigation so I am that the files showed the Rock County charge and cautious on those releases report was filed on January conviction of felony child abuse. In that case he was but the child is entered as 2, 2013. In the January 22 online charged with three counts missing and we will be of child abuse, and plead announcement appearing referring that for review to no contest to one. The the DA's office for failure on WRJC they stated : “The mother has not other two charges were to return the child." dismissed. The child vicseen the child since In a subsequent Monday afternoon conversation September 2012,” said tim in that case was not the with Chief Messer he stat- Mauston Police Chief child now missing. According to a recent ed that an announcement Mark Messer. “We entered was issued that same day Logan Tadder, a white, Facebook update by the to other law enforcement male child with a birth date father on January 5, 2013 agencies asking that a of 4-23-10, as missing as he is now residing in "welfare check" be per- of yesterday, January 21, Minnesota. "I just want my son formed at the previous 2013. Charges have been known addresses on record referred against the father back. I want to know he is to the District Attorney’s okay,"said Jensen. for Tadder.