Published: June 26, 2008 12:37 am            

Wise gets 3 years suspended

Lebanon — A Lebanon man received a suspended sentence Wednesday after pleading guilty to the sexual battery of a teenager.

Randal Wise, 31, Lebanon, was sentenced to three years, suspended, and three years supervised probation for a Class D felony of sexual battery. His case was in Boone County Superior Court II.

Wise, a former reserve deputy and emergency medical technician, was arrested on Feb. 20 by the Boone County Sheriff’s Department on charges of sexual battery, child seduction and battery. Through a plea agreement, Wise pleaded to the sexual battery charge and the Boone County Prosecutors office agreed not to pursue the remaining two charges.

While molestation laws protect younger victims, the charge of child seduction is used when a person in an authority position engages in sexual misconduct with a person who is 16 to 18.

The youth’s parents told police on Feb. 16 their son had been molested by Wise, whom they described as “a family friend.”

Wise was arrested after he confessed to performing oral sex on the teen who was spending the night at Wise’s house after the two returned from a youth rally. Wise at first denied the incident, but confessed after being told he could be given a lie detector test immediately, BCSD Det. Capt. Mike Beard said in the probable cause affidavit.

The parents were concerned for their son’s safety because Wise “does work for several police departments in the county,” and they believed him to be a Boone County reserve deputy, according to police reports. In fact, Wise had been a reserve deputy, but voluntarily left the reserve program in April, the BCSD reported.

A polygraph test done on Feb. 20 by BCSD Deputy Keith Bruner supported Wise’s contention that there were no other victims.

Wise was profiled by The Lebanon Reporter last summer, for his work with a “praise band” at a local church.

        

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