Zachary Wakeen
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — A Schofield father accused of leaving his son in a hot car overnight has taken a plea deal.
Zachary Wakeen told authorities he was unloading his car back in July of 2019 and fell asleep on the couch with his then 2-year-old son inside the car. In a plea hearing Tuesday, the court withheld a finding and entered a no-contest plea to a felony charge of neglecting a child and causing great bodily harm. Instead, the court deferred the matter for a period of five years for the defendant to comply with all terms and conditions of a deferred entry of judgment agreement.
In 2019 the child’s mother was asleep in another room and by the time she found Wakeen on the couch, it was nearly noon. That’s when he realized the baby was still in the car. Officials say the temperature inside the car was 135.8 degrees when they arrived on the scene.
If Wakeen is in full compliance with the terms and conditions of his plea deal and has no new criminal charges, the state will amend the charge to a misdemeanor of child neglect.
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