Hearing held in Douglas County for man charged with 10 felony sex crimes

ALEXANDRIA — A Parkers Prairie man charged with 10 counts of felony criminal sexual conduct made a court appearance on Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Zachary Levi Wittmer, 34, appeared via Zoom at Douglas County District Court for an omnibus hearing.

Wittmer is charged with two first-degree counts of felony criminal sexual conduct, one second-degree count, five third-degree counts and two fourth-degree counts, according to court documents.

Wittmer was convicted in April on a count of second degree felony criminal sexual conduct in relation to an incident in which he assaulted a 10-year-old in 2018.

The second group of charges also involve a juvenile male, who was 14 at the time the alleged abuse began and who came forward after reading an article in the Echo Press about Wittmer's other case.

The maximum sentences for Wittmer's charges break down as follows:

• First degree: 144 months to 30 years imprisonment and a $40,000 fine.
• Second degree: 90 months to 25 years imprisonment and a $35,000 fine.
• Third degree: 15 years imprisonment and a $30,000 fine.
• Fourth degree: 10 years imprisonment and a $20,000 fine.

The omnibus hearing for former Alexandria police chief Richard Wyffels has been rescheduled.

The hearing had been set to take place via Zoom in Douglas County District Court on Wednesday, Feb. 22, but was rescheduled for June 2.

Wyffels has been charged by complaint with felony theft by swindle.

He is accused of purchasing $65,724 worth of items that were missing from the police department, according to the complaint.

Wyffels served as chief beginning Oct. 31, 2006, and retired on Sept. 30, 2020.