Judge wants more info before sentencing Neillsville church vandal
The Lublin man who caused extensive vandalism damage at a Neillsville church almost a year ago has been ordered to undergo four years of mental health treatment. Whether that term is served in a confined mental institution or in out-patient care has yet to be determined.
Clark County Circuit Court Judge Lyndsey Boon Brunette on Feb. 12 accepted a plea deal in the criminal felony case of 43-year-old Seth Meier, who allegedly burglarized St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville on March 1, 2019 and caused extensive damage to statues, a large wooden crucifix, a baptismal font, and other religious property. Under terms of the agreement reached between Meier and Clark County District Attorney Melissa Inlow, Meier has pleaded guilty to a felony count of burglary, but not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. A second felony charge of criminal damage to religious property will be dismissed but used by the court for sentencing and restitution purposes.
Inlow and Christine Kuczynski, the public defender assigned to Meier’s case, told Boon Brunette last week that they agree to recommend a 4-year term of mental health treatment for Meier, but do not have enough information to decide if he should be sent to a state mental hospital for four years or allowed to undergo treatment on an out-patient basis. Inlow said she is “leaning more toward” care in a mental health facility, while Kuczynski said she does not necessarily agree with that determination.
“I think it’s a little bit of a unique situation,” Kuczynski said, as Meier is already under a Chapter 51 mental health commitment.
Inlow and Kuczynski agreed more information is needed to make the final sentencing recommendations, so they asked the court to order a predisposition investigation and a supplemental health examination for Meier. That would give the attorneys and the court more insight into Meier’s mental health status as well as background information on how past treatments have worked for him, “so we would all be better informed as to where the placement should be,” Inlow said.
Boon Brunette agreed, and ordered both the predisposition investigation and futher mental health evaluation. The parties are to return to court on April 20 with the new information for a possible final sentencing.
Boon Brunette informed Meier that the guilty plea, even with the not guilty by mental disease or defect component, counts as a felony conviction. With that, he can no longer possess a firearm or vote, and must supply a DNA sample to be entered into the state’s data base. The judge also noted that she is not bound by the recommendations of Inlow and/or Kuczynski, and can make her own determination on sentencing. The maximum penalties for the felony burglary charge are as long as 12 1/2 years in state prison/ extended supervision and as much as $25,000 in fines.
Boon Brunette also agreed with the attorneys in the case that more information is needed before a final outcome is decided.
Victim impact statements may also be considered in that decision.
Meier allegedly entered the church on the night of March 1 and knocked over and smashed several large statues, smashed the baptismal font beyond repair, and ripped a large wooden cross off a wall. After police were called to the scene that morning, a tip came in that Meier was responsible, and he was found at his mother’s home in Neillsville.
The church was able to find a statue restoration company that took the statues offsite and repaired them. They were mostly back in place in time for Christmas.
According to online court records, the church is requesting $102,209 in restitution from Meier for the damage. That request has not yet been handled by the court.
Meier remains free on a $1,500 cash bond he posted on April 11, 2019.
Workers unload a statue of the Virgin Mary in December at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Neillsville. The statue was one of several extensively damaged last March 1, allegedly by Seth Meier of Lublin, who was in court last week for a plea/sentencing hearing.
TRG FILE PHOTO
