No more breaks for felon

A 19-year-old of man who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing an 11-year-old girl will serve prison time after he violated his probation.

Edward Charles Buckendorf appeared in the Third District Court of Judge Nena James at a probation of revocation hearing to an original charge of second-degree sexual abuse of a minor.

Judge James revoked his probation and sentenced him to three to five years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary, with credit given for 48 days served.

On. Aug. 28, Buckendorf entered a guilty plea to the felony charge under Wyoming Statute 7-13-301. This statute is designed for first-time offenders and can only be used once. Under 7-13-301, Buckendorf agreed to enter a guilty plea, which would not have been entered unless he did not successfully complete his three-year supervised probation. If he had successfully completed his probation the felony charge is dismissed.

According to court documents, on Sept. 17, an initial hearing on probation revocation took place in Judge James court for claims that he used Internet and cell phone technology from Aug. 29-Sept. 10, 2014, to contact a minor, which was against his probation terms.

At that hearing, Judge James told Buckendorf, the court has three options: to revoke probation and reinstate it under the current terms, revoke probation and reinstate it with more stringent terms or revoke probation and enter Buckendorf’s guilty plea, at which point he would become a convicted felon and he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a maximum fine of $10,000. At the most recent hearing, she chose the last option.

According to court documents, on April 11, 2014, a Green River Police officer was advised by the Department of Family Services that three children told one of their employees about an alleged sexual abuse.

The three children were interviewed on April 5, 2014. One of the girls told the officer she met Buckendorf at the skate park and knew how old he was because her friend had told her. She told the officer Buckendorf knew how old she was because she told him.

The girl told the officers that one night Buckendorf snuck into her bedroom through her window. After he entered the room, the girl, Buckendorf and her friend went into the closet. Her friend soon left the closet because she got nervous.

She said while they were in the closet they kissed. The two then engaged in a simulated sexual activity while fully clothed.

On April 16, Buckendorf was also interviewed. He told the officer he met the girl at the skatepark in 2013 and believed the girl was about 12 years old. He admitted to sneaking into the girl’s room through the window and to the activities described by the girl. Buckendorf said he then left the closet because he knew it would lead to more.

The girl’s siblings were interviewed and confirmed what the two previously told investigators.