FORMER MONROE COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF PLEADS GUILTY TO MISCONDUCT IN PUBLIC OFFICE FOR ABUSING FEMALE BEING HELD IN JAIL

David Schaldach To Serve 18 Months Initial Confinement in Prison Followed By 12 Months Extended Supervision

MADISON - David Schaldach, age 61, formerly a lieutenant for the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, entered a guilty plea and was sentenced for Misconduct In Public Office, based upon his alleged sexual contact with a female being held in the Monroe County Jail, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today.

Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Todd Ziegler accepted Schaldach's plea to Misconduct In Public Office. He also ordered Schaldach to a 30 month term of imprisonment, to be comprised of 18 months initial confinement and 12 months extended supervision. Schaldach faced a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years and a maximum term of initial confinement of 2 years.

The criminal complaint alleges that Schaldach was a lieutenant with supervisory responsibilities for the Monroe County Jail. In August, 2002, Schaldach had sexual contact with a female inmate on at least two occasions. According to the complaint, the inmate suffered from a variety of mental health conditions at the time this sexual contact occurred. This matter came to the attention of Monroe County authorities in 2006 following Schaldach's deposition in an unrelated civil case.

"The vast majority of law enforcement officers in the State of Wisconsin do their job to protect public safety conscientiously and fairly, treating all persons with dignity and respect," Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said. "But where an officer abuses his position of authority and commits criminal acts, he should be prosecuted. I thank my staff for their work investigating and prosecuting this case, and I thank the Monroe County Sherriff for his diligence in opening an investigation upon learning of possible misconduct and seeking outside assistance."

The case was prosecuted by Assistant Attorneys General Donald Latorraca and Gary Freyberg as special prosecutors for Monroe County. The case was investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Monroe County Sheriff's Department, and the La Crosse County Sheriff's Department.