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THE AWARD WINNING OFFICIAL LEGAL NEWSPAPER OF JUNEAU COUNTY
VOL 14, NO. 52
THURSDAY, AUGUST 1, 2013
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Donald Coughlin
Coughlin jury trial postponed BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD This Monday was the scheduled start date for the trial in the State of Wisconsin's case against former Lyndon Station Village President Donald Coughlin, but rather than a jury being selected, a postponement was granted. Coughlin is now scheduled for trial in March of 2014. Coughlin, age 56, is facing 23 felony charges all dealing with sexual assault of children. His attorney motioned the court for the postponement when earlier this month there was a discovery of video recordings made by the Juneau County Sheriff's Department of interviews conducted with the alleged victims. It was a discovery made after the trial of Daniel Coughlin, Donald's younger brother, had already begun and which led to a mistrial. Daniel Coughlin was also facing multiple child sexual assault charges. Both men are being charged with crimes that occurred over a number of years dating as far back as the 1980's where the alleged victims were all males. Donald Coughlin was originally charged in 2010 while Daniel was charged in 2011. The State's case against Donald is being handled by special prosecutor Winn Collins, an assistant attorney general. Defense attorney Dan Berkos is representing Donald Coughlin.
ROUNDABOUT CONSTRUCTION TAKING SHAPE
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s (WisDot) controversial roundabout in Mauston is on schedule and taking shape. The roundabout is being installed at the intersection of Grayside Avenue and Division Street. According to Dale Merten from WisDot, near the onset of the month of August traffic will be shifted to the east side of Division Street near Grayside while underground utility installations and the west side pavement is completed. Construction will be ongoing throughout the summer and through the month of October. Many residents in the area have been up in arms about the roundabout coming to Mauston. They issued complaints and concerns at prior public meetings with the WisDot and residents have voiced their concerns on the Messenger's Facebook page. Some have directed their frustration at the City of Mauston, but as we learned in prior informational meetings the decision on if and where the roundabout would be placed fell on the shoulders of the Department of Transportation. At an October 2011 public meeting with WisDot, the question on who had final say on the roundabout was answered by WisDot representative, Ann Wallace, when the Messenger inquired if the roundabout was a "done deal?" Wallace responded by saying she was unable to say it was a "done deal," however, she went on to say that should there be "political outcry and pressure" that WisDOT may switch gears. She then stated, "if it happens I will be the one who has to redesign the project. It falls on me. I believe in the roundabout. We have the statistics and data - it's the safest way." Roundabouts are being placed in communities much like Mauston, and throughout the State of Wisconsin. Many have voiced complaints about not having a local say on what happens in their communities according to David Craig, a State Representative from Big Bend. Rep. Craig is proposing legislation that would make it harder for the WisDot to put them in when there is public outcry. According to a report from radio station TMJ4 the representative stated he was not making a judgement on roundabouts but rather stated, "We want to make sure that decisions like this are made by local officials representing the individuals that are going to be impacted the most directly by it." The proposal he is introducing would give local governments the ultimate say before the state could put a traffic circle into a community.The main concern he is hearing from others, according to the report, is not on the issue of whether a roundabout is safer or not, but where and what areas of a given community the WisDot is placing them. In Mauston many of the comments opposing the roundabout are from people issuing concerns about the close proximity to a park, schools, and the hospital. These were the same concerns issued at the October 2011 meeting with WisDot representatives who responded by stating local residents may not want the roundabout but will soon learn to appreciate them for their ability to ease traffic congestion and lighten the number of injury producing accidents.
Becerra faces more counts in child assaults BY EVA MARIE WOYWOD On Thursday, July 25, Juneau County District Attorney Michael Solovey filed nine felony child sexual assault charges against 42 year old Neil Becerra of Necedah. On Monday, July 29, Becerra appeared for a bond hearing on video from the Juneau County Jail where he is being held on a separate child sexual assault case where he has been unable to post the $20,000 cash bond. In that matter, a jury trial has been scheduled for October of this year. As to the most recent charges, an additional $10,000 cash bond was set. According to the criminal complaint the alleged victims from the recent charges are two young females known to Becerra. The sexual abuse that is alleged to have occurred started when one of the victims was as young as two years old and was on-going for up to eight years. The criminal complaint states that accord-
ing to a 1997 doctor's exam and hospital records, the then female toddler showed signs of sexual abuse including a break in her hymen and redness to her genitals. The other female victim also alleges that the abuse had been on-going beginning on her 7th birthday and lasting over two years and as recently as March of this year when Becerra was arrested on child sexual assault charges on a previous case. The young girl, according the criminal complaint, told law enforcement that Becerra had threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the abuse. Both victims claim Becerra fondled them on numerous occasions and one victim claims Becerra forced her to perform oral sex. Becerra is scheduled for a August 7, 2013 initial appearance before Juneau County Circuit Court Judge Paul Curran.
Neil Becerra