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WJFW News

Man Accused of Child Enticement Faces New Felony Charge Submitted: 07/05/2012

RHINELANDER - The Tomahawk man accused of child enticement on Facebook is in even more trouble now.

Judge O'Melia found there's probable cause to bind Abel Jump over for trial for having an illicit Facebook conversation with a 16 year old. But now Jump also faces a felony charge for threatening a judge.

Detective Sergeant Shannon Murray testified Thursday Jump admitted to participating in part of the Facebook conversation with the girl.

"He had asked her to have sexual intercourse with him. And to also get a friend of hers to participate with them. He also asked that she have that friend of hers get them a hotel room to do this in," says Detective Sergeant Murray.

But Jump says he didn't take part in the second half of the conversation; the half where someone propositioned her.

"His phone would have been in its charger near his bunk so anybody in the unit could have gotten it or anywhere else. Or somebody could have hacked into his account," says Detective Sergeant Murray.

Since the illicit part of the conversation began one minute after the part Jump admitted to, Judge O'Melia ruled it's likely he was the one sending the messages.

But today Jump finds himself in even more trouble. Detective Murray testified earlier this week what she overheard in a recorded phone conversation Jump had from jail.

"Judge at the last hearing I indicated that, or Miss Murray indicated rather, that the defendant had made a threat to the judge. We've now prepared a criminal complaint with regard to that new case," says Assistant District Attorney Scott Moller.

Jump will be arraigned on Monday for the Child Enticement charge-- when he'll also make his initial appearance for the charge of battery or threat to a judge.

Story By: Lyndsey Stemm

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Fire Burns Rhinelander Apartment Building Submitted: 05/24/2013

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RHINELANDER - People jumped from a second story window to escape an early morning fire in Rhinelander.

Just after two this morning, the Rhinelander fire department rushed to 254 Westhill Road.

Half of a four unit apartment building was already in flames when they got there.

Five people living in the building had already gotten out.

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Minocqua Farmers Market Opens for the Season Submitted: 05/24/2013

MINOCQUA - Many of us have been waiting for home-grown fruits and vegetables.

Now they're here at a Northwoods summer market.

It's opening day for the Minocqua Farmers Market.

15 vendors filled the Minocqua Park Complex on Highway 70.

They have vegetable plants, flowers, baked goods and MORE available for purchase.

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Little Free Libraries Promote Reading Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - You don't need to get a library card to check out a book theses days. Boxes that look like bird houses are popping up all over.

They're called Little Free Libraries. Anyone can stop by to take or give a book. It's all based on the honor system. Maureen O'Melia put her's up at home last night across from Pioneer Park.

"I contacted Ed Hughes from the library. He was excited about the idea as well and he, a week later, says I built you one Maureen. But I had to stain it and get it ready for the outdoors," says Maureen O'Melia, who built a Little Free Library.

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Father Overseas Turns into Learning Opportunity Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - Rhinelander kindergartener Carlie Jahn watched her dad leave for his third overseas tour of duty last fall.

Usually, she gets to see him for two-weeks during his nine-month tour. But there was no leave for Guardsmen Justin Jahn this year. He will be in Afghanistan until July.

Instead of too much sadness, Carlie's mom is helping her by sharing at school.

"Once that time came through, it was hard for her to understand why he wasn't coming home. I thought this would be a fun way to have her realize that she's not the only one, that there's others out there," says Amanda Jahn.

Jahn talked with grade schoolers at Crescent Elementary today about living with a family member in the military.

Students also recognized veterans and active soldiers related to them.

Memorial Day is Monday.

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Possible End to One Walleye Fight Submitted: 05/24/2013

LAC DU FLAMBEAU - The back-and-forth between state lawmakers and the Lac du Flambeau tribe might be over.

Dean Kaufert is a Republican representing Neenah. He wanted to strip a quarter-million dollars of funding from the tribe. That money would have gone to fund a new cultural center.

His original move was a protest against the Chippewa lowering walleye bag limits. That happened on many lakes in the ceded territory this spring.

"I was kind of having some difficulty with some of my colleagues in the Legislature with convincing them that we needed to play hardball by holding this project back," says Rep. Kaufert.

Walleye spearing season by Chippewa fishermen is almost over. They only took about half as many as they expected. So, the DNR raised limits on 423 lakes in the ceded territory.

Kaufert now will not stand in the way of the cultural center money.

"The Governor asked me if I would consider releasing that project due to their ongoing discussions about trying to create a better environment up north for fish stocking and number of walleyes in our lakes," says Rep. Kaufert.

This week, Governor Scott Walker also proposed a state project to put more walleye in Wisconsin's lakes.

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Eight Years Prison Time for Sexually Assaulting a Child Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - A man from Rhinelander will spend the next eight years in prison for sexually assaulting a very young child.

The details of the case are so graphic and so disturbing, we can't put them on television.

What we can show you is edited to protect the victim's identity.

Forty five-year-old Jack Kaufman faced up to 40 years in prison. He insisted to the very end, that what he did was an accident, not sexual assault.

Prosecutors said today Kaufman gave so many versions of the story, they couldn't keep track of them all. One version was that the child walked in on him while masturbating. Then he said he accidentally ejaculated on the child. Although in some interviews, he said it was on purpose.

But the child described a full sexual assault to police, and said it happened, "lots of times".

"Mr. Kaufman provided many versions of his assault of (the victim). When confronted with the overwhelming discrepancies he said (the victim) was telling the truth. But at no time did he say he was sorry. He did say he wished his family wouldn't have reported," says Scott Moller, Oneida County Assistant District Attorney.

Kaufman told investigators he had no interest in sexual activity with anyone, child or adult. Judge Michael Bloom didn't accept that.

"That did not stop him from taking advantage of the presence of a warm, living, breathing person who happened to be nearby when he was engaged in this activity," says Judge Bloom.

Judge Bloom sentenced Kaufman to 14 years prison. He'll spend the first eight behind bars, and the remaining six on extended supervision.

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Wolf Gets 12 Years for Stabbing Near Hodag Statue Submitted: 05/24/2013

RHINELANDER - You might remember the name Shannon Wolf. He chased his wife down, stabbed and choked her by the Hodag statue in Rhinelander last February. He'll now spend the next twelve years in prison.

Today Latoya Wolf testified she was partly to blame for what happened. She told the court Shannon Wolf was trying to cut his own wrists. But she got in the way and was cut in the struggle for the knife.

Prosecutors said the violent encounter and the victim's backtracking was a classic example of the domestic abuse cycle.

"I believe that there are significant pressures on Mrs. Wolf," says Assistant District Attorney Scott Moller.

Moller presented Wolf's extensive criminal history. He said there's also a documented history of domestic abuse.

Moller asked Judge Patrick O'Melia to sentence Wolf to 30 years.

Judge O'Melia said he believes this case is one of classic domestic abuse.

He sentenced Wolf to 24 years. He'll spend 12 in prison and 12 years extended supervision.

Wolf is not allowed to have any contact with his wife. He's also not eligible for early release or boot camp.

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