By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — A 31-year-old Wausau woman accused of allowing her fiance to smoke marijuana with her 10-year-old son could avoid a felony conviction if she undergoes counseling and successfully completes an 18-month probation term.
Kathryn J. White pleaded guilty on Thursday in Marathon County Circuit Court to charges of child abuse, contributing to the delinquency of a child and possession of drug paraphernalia. As part of a plea agreement, the felony charge — child abuse — will be dropped if White follows all the rules of her probation, maintains absolute sobriety and follows all the recommendations of the Department of Social Services.
The remaining two charges, both misdemeanors, will stand.
Identical charges against White’s fiance, 28-year-old Christopher Burger, remain open.
Investigators were first called to the couple’s west side home in October after a tip that Burger and White were using drugs in front of the boy and his 2-year-old sister, according to court documents. When confronted, Burger admitted smoking marijuana with the boy twice and told investigators he smoked regularly in front of the children, who were then removed from the home.
A plea hearing for Burger is set for Jan. 11.
