PC: Fox 11 Online
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A plea deal has been reached for a father charged in the 2021 death of his 2-year-old son in an incident with a skid steer on the family farm in the town of St. Lawrence.
If a judge accepts the settlement, which was filed Wednesday, Caleb Schachtschneider would not face any prison or jail time.
Schachtschneider, 43, was charged with second-degree reckless homicide and neglecting a child-consequence is death for the April 5, 2021 incident in the town of St. Lawrence.
Court records show Schachtschneider would plead guilty to two counts: the reckless homicide charge, and a reduced count of misdemeanor child neglect. If he completes all of the terms, the reckless homicide count would be dismissed.
Those terms would include one year on probation. During that time, Schachtschneider would need to complete a skid steer safety course, and spend a minimum of ten hours speaking about the injuries to his children and the death of his child.
The maximum penalty on the reckless homicide charge would be up to 25 years in prison.
A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
According to the criminal complaint: “Caleb said he was using it to clear manure and Victim was on his lap. Caleb was lowering the bucket, when Victim fell forward. Caleb said Victim’s head hit between the cross member on the bucket boom, and the frame of the skid steer. Caleb believed he was still lowering the bucket and Victim’s head got crushed Caleb said I did not have him secured and I should have. (An officer) asked Caleb how often The victim rides in the skid steer with him and he stated The victim rides with him 2 to 3 times a week in the skid steer. Caleb stated that when he purchased the skid steer it came with a front door but that he had removed the front door several years ago and the door is in one of the sheds.”
The boy was taken to hospitals in Neenah and Wauwatosa, but died, according to the criminal complaint.
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