MADISON, WI (WSAU) — A Rhinelander man has pled guilty to and been sentenced for one count of attempted child enticement.
Richard M. Duellman entered the plea in US District Court in Madison on Thursday and was immediately sentenced to 10 years in federal prison and five years of extended supervision for the count.
The charge stems from an incident in July of 2020 when Duellman began texting with a person he thought was a 15-year-old girl, but was an undercover officer. The conversation quickly turned sexual, and Duellman made it clear he was interested in having a sexual encounter.
The exchange included a phone call between Duellman and another officer posing as the same 15-year-old girl, during which the two arranged to meet at a Rhinelander business. He was arrested shortly after he arrived.
In a post-arrest interview, the 43-year-old admitted to starting the conversation and also admitted that he intended to have sex with the girl if he had met her.
Judge James D Peterson noted Duellman’s criminal history as one of the reasons for the lengthy sentence.
