http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090820/GPG0101/308210010/1207&located=rssProfiles of Manitowoc family members in 'bizarre' sex abuse case(s)
Six members of a Manitowoc family have been charged with sex-related crimes during the past three years.
Here are profiles of the family matriarch, who has not been charged with any crime, and the six suspects.
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**** Kathryn Stites
Kathryn Stites, a Green Bay native, is a widow with five sons and one daughter, she told the Herald Times Reporter in a December 2004 article. Her husband, Thomas, died at age 42 from a brain tumor almost 20 years ago. She moved to Manitowoc in 1999 and soon became active in the community by helping build houses through Habitat for Humanity — eventually receiving her own house through the program. She also began attending church services at a Manitowoc church where her son, Jason Stites, was a trustee of the church's financial accounts.
Kathryn Stites often frequents the court appearances of her relatives. She has testified on behalf of her children and has spoken out in court from the public benches during a recent hearing regarding her son, Thomas. She also testified she told Thomas not to talk to detectives about an alleged sexual assault.
Kathryn Stites' phone call to her son, Michael, led to three felony-bail-jumping charges against her daughter-in-law, Charlene Stites, according to a criminal complaint. Kathryn Stites spoke about letters sent to Michael Stites, who was in the Manitowoc County Jail. A search of Michael's jail cell revealed three letters allegedly sent from Charlene. Charlene Stites previously was ordered to have no contact with Michael Stites.
In one of Carl Stites' cases, a victim admitted to a detective not originally providing all the details about a sexual assault because the victim was afraid of Kathryn Stites' reaction, according to a criminal complaint.
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**** Charlene Stites
Charlene Stites, 43, formerly of Manitowoc, was employed by Brandt Buses, the company that transports children for the Manitowoc School District, for a month before she was charged with sexual assaulting a teenage girl. Her employment was terminated after her March 29 arrest on a repeated-sexual-assault-of-a-child charge.
Charlene Stites cleared a background check before she began her employment to drive a kindergarten bus route, district superintendent Mark Swanson said in early April.
Charlene Stites was scheduled for a plea hearing today.
She is accused of sexually assaulting a teenage girl with her husband, Michael Stites, between 2005 and 2008 — the latest time being in December.
Charlene Stites admitted to detectives she was involved in the assaults of the girl, according to a criminal complaint.
She also is charged with three counts of bail jumping after she allegedly sent her husband three letters to the Manitowoc County Jail. She was ordered to have no contact with her husband as terms of her $1,000 bail on the sexual assault charge.
Charlene Stites recently moved to Kimberly.
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**** Michael Stites
Michael Stites was 27 years old when he sexually assaulted his children's babysitter three times in September 1998. He was sentenced to prison for eight years but spent about five years behind bars, the maximum amount under old laws, according to Assistant District Attorney Jerilyn Dietz.
Soon after his release, Michael Stites, 38, of Manitowoc, began sexually abusing two adolescent girls. The abuse stopped in 2008, and it was reported in early 2009.
The investigation into Michael Stites' sexual activity history uncovered accusations against other Stites family members that led to four arrests within four months.
When being questioned about the assaults, Michael Stites told the detective he had a problem and could not control himself.
Michael Stites pleaded guilty to felony crimes.
He awaits a Sept. 1 sentencing. He also awaits a Sept. 8 sentencing after his probation for the 1998 assaults was revoked in Brown County.
Dietz is arguing for a consecutive prison sentence between the two cases.
Michael Stites remains jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail.
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**** Jason Stites
Jason C. Stites, 27, previously of Manitowoc, spent years as a trustee at a Manitowoc church until he was charged with stealing thousands of dollars from the church between Dec. 28, 2007, and Sept. 29, 2008.
Jason Stites also is charged with five sex-related felonies after he admitted to law enforcement he videotaped a teenage couple having sex at a hotel and at his apartment while he was chaperoning them between August and October 2008.
Jason Stites lives in New Berlin. He was released from the Manitowoc County Jail on a signature bond and is ordered to have no contact with anyone younger than age 18. An exception was made for incidental contact through his employment as a pizza delivery driver and when supervised at religious services.
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**** Thomas Stites
A court record search of Thomas M. Stites' criminal background indicates he is charged with the sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl between Dec. 18, 2004, and Jan. 1, 2005. However, juvenile records show sexual assault allegations from Kewaunee County, as discussed by attorneys, a judge, Thomas Stites and his mother, Kathryn Stites, in court.
Thomas Stites, 25, of Francis Creek, is considered mentally handicapped, his mother said in court, and receives Social Security disability funds to pay for his apartment and living expenses.
Thomas Stites' attorney has asked a judge to suppress statements Thomas Stites made to detectives after his arrest. The attorney claims Thomas Stites did not understand his Miranda rights because of his mental abilities and that Thomas Stites asked for lawyer.
Thomas Stites testified in court that he asked for a lawyer in his "own special way." He also told a judge he was not guilty of the "heinous" crime.
Detectives testified he did not ask for a lawyer during the interview.
Manitowoc County Circuit Patrick Willis is expected to make a decision about the statements Aug. 29.
Thomas Stites remains jailed in lieu of $10,000 bail. His trial is scheduled to begin Sept. 15.
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**** Carl Stites
Carl J. Stites, 21, of Manitowoc, was teaching a minor girl to play the piano when he molested her about four years ago. He was placed on probation and has nine months of jail time that can be imposed at the judge's discretion after he pleaded no contest to child enticement Oct. 10, 2008.
Carl Stites was sentenced to three months in jail after he was convicted of child enticement. He sexually abused an adolescent boy from November 2004 to June 2006. Three additional months in jail also can be imposed at the judge's discretion.
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**** Adam Stites
Adam M. Stites was 8 years old when his father began sexually assaulting the babysitter. Adam Stites was watching a movie when one of the assaults occurred and his father, Michael Stites, yelled at him to look away until the young boy fell asleep, according to a Brown County criminal complaint.
Adam Stites, 18, of Manitowoc, is convicted of three counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree sexual assault in Manitowoc and Kewaunee counties. He also pleaded guilty to a felony sex-related crime and entered into a deferred judgment agreement. If Adam Stites successfully complies with the agreement, the charge will be dismissed.
Although he originally was not sentenced to jail, he received 90 days in jail after he was caught viewing pornography on a school computer, according to court records.
Adam Stites was tried as an adult because he was 17 years old when the offenses were reported in 2008. However, the assaults happened in 2005, soon after his father, Michael Stites, was released from prison. He was 14 years old during the sexual assaults. After he was sentenced, he told investigators his father instigated and critiqued the assaults.
Filed by the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter
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I am saddened and embarrassed to even know this kind of stuff happens, let alone so close to home...
How much is hereditary? How much is learned?
(As if either of those are excuses)...
XOXO
Me