A Rice Lake man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to a felony count of second-degree sexual assault of a child. Jonathan T. Scheel, 36, was charged in July 2025 with multiple counts related to the repeated sexual assault of a minor and causing a younger child to view/listen to a sex act.
Scheel pleaded guilty to an amended charge of second-degree sexual assault of a child, a Class C felony, in April. He was sentenced on Friday by Judge Samuel Lawton to 14 years in prison, with eight years of incarceration followed by six years of extended supervision. Scheel must also register as a sex offender for life.
The sentence includes credit for 71 days served in jail prior to sentencing. The Department of Corrections will set conditions for Scheel's registration and supervision.
This incident is the latest development in a series of heat-related warnings issued for Wisconsin, with extreme temperatures forecasted across much of the state on Monday. However, this case has no apparent connection to the weather events.
Background: This conviction marks another instance of a sex crime being prosecuted in Barron County Circuit Court. The court's handling of such cases is subject to ongoing review and evaluation by local authorities and community organizations working to prevent child abuse and support victims' recovery.