WAUSAU — A 28-year-old Wausau man accused of smoking marijuana with a 10-year-old boy could avoid a felony conviction if he undergoes counseling and successfully completes a 2-year probation term.
Christopher Burger appeared last week in Marathon County Circuit Court after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. As part of the agreement, Burger stands convicted of intentionally contributing to the delinquency of a child and possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors. A felony child abuse charge will be dismissed in two years if Burger follows all the rules of his probation, maintains absolute sobriety and follows the recommendations of the Department of Social Services, court records show.
Burger was arrested in October after police were tipped off that he and his fiancee, Kathryn J. White, were using drugs in front of White’s two children. When confronted, Burger admitted smoking marijuana with the boy twice and told police he smoked regularly in front of the children, according to court documents. The children were temporarily removed from the home.
White reached a similar plea deal in December and will spend 18 months on probation.
Both will appear at review hearings after their probation term concludes.
