Charge Dismissed In Lovers' Revenge Plot

[Jacaylbaro]

A felony charge was dismissed Monday against a Wisconsin woman accused of plotting with her husband's lovers to lure him to a motel where he ended up tied to a bed with his penis glued to his stomach.

 

The 30-year-old Fond du Lac woman was one of four women charged with being party to false imprisonment in the July 30 incident at a Stockbridge motel. The Associated Press is not naming her to protect her husband's identity as an alleged victim of sexual assault.

 

Calumet County Circuit Judge Donald Poppy ruled Monday there was insufficient evidence presented during a preliminary hearing in September to suggest the wife was present when her husband objected to being restrained. He granted a defense motion to throw out the charge.

 

The 37-year-old man had testified his wife was in the room only briefly during the ordeal that lasted about 30 minutes.

 

District Attorney Ken Kratz said he could appeal Poppy's decision or refile the charge with more evidence.

 

"I am mulling over my options," he said. "I have new evidence that I didn't use at the preliminary hearing."

 

He declined to elaborate.

 

Therese Ziemann, 48, of Menasha, Wendy Sewell, 43, of Kaukauna, Michelle Belliveau, 43, of Neenah and the victim's wife were each charged with being party to felony false imprisonment. Ziemann was also charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree sexual assault.

 

Belliveau and Ziemann have pleaded not guilty. Sewell is to return to court next Monday for a motions hearing.

 

According to the criminal complaint, the man was romantically involved with Ziemann and Sewell. Belliveau is Ziemann's sister and went to the motel to support her, the complaint said.

 

The man has testified he agreed to be tied up and blindfolded by Ziemann in a tryst involving a bondage fantasy before she summoned the others to the room and humiliated him.

 

"I was asking everybody in the room to cut me loose," the victim testified.

 

The wife's attorney did not immediately return a telephone message Monday.