By The Statehouse File
STURGEON BAY, Wis. — Former Franklin College President Thomas Minar formally pleaded not guilty to child pornography and other sex-related charges through his attorney at his preliminary hearing in Door County Tuesday.
Minar, who was arrested in January and soon after was fired from the college, appeared in person with attorney Brett Reetz for a very short hearing in a nearly empty courtroom before Judge David L. Weber. Reetz announced that Minar is entering a plea of not guilty for all charges and waiving the right to a formal reading of the amended charges.
Minar, 57, has been charged with 12 counts of possession of child pornography, using a computer to facilitate a sex crime and exposing a child to harmful narrations.
Reetz, contacted after the hearing, declined to comment.
The county’s district attorney, Colleen Nordin, said Minar has been offered a plea deal but declined to divulge details. She added that there is no chance of probation because of the minimum three-year initial incarceration requirement in child pornography cases.
“Although he is presumed innocent until proven guilty, the evidence is strong,” Nordin said. “I am confident in the case.”
