The case against Timothy Hauschultz, the then legal guardian of Ethan Hauschultz, is moving forward toward a trial.
This comes after the new judge presiding over the case has also denied a plea deal Timothy was asking for, saying it’s not in the public’s best interest and that Timothy wasn’t taking accountability for his actions.
The 55-year-old wanted to enter an Alford plea to charges of failure to act and neglecting a child.
Both prosecutors and the defense sought a second plea deal, but it was also rejected by Judge Carey Reed, who was assigned to the case after Manitowoc County Judge Jerilyn Dietz recused herself due to a conflict of interest.
Dietz also refused to accept plea deals for Timothy, citing similar reasoning. Judge Reed denied two other issues but accepted one request by prosecutors.
The denials included not allowing the defense to pick a jury from outside Manitowoc County and refusing to sequester them once chosen.
But Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre was able to change one of the counts against Timothy to child neglect, death as a consequence.
Timothy’s trial is scheduled to begin on February 23rd, while a pre-trial conference is scheduled for January 12th.
Timothy was charged in Ethan’s 2018 death after he ordered his son Damien to make sure the boy was punished for not knowing Bible verses.
A criminal complaint said that Ethan was forced to carry around a heavy log, but during that time, Damian poked and hit the 7-year-old over 100 times.
Damian is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being found guilty of 1st-degree reckless homicide.
Timothy still faces charges, including felony murder and two counts of intentionally contributing to the death of Ethan.
