By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — Jurors deliberated for about two hours before convicting a former Weston man of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl on multiple occasions and giving her cocaine and marijuana.
Peter Buntrock, 48, who now lists a Brantwood address, was found guilty of all 11 charges: four counts of second degree sexual assault of a child, two counts of exposing genitals to a child, and single charges of using a computer to facilitate a sex crime, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of child pornography and exposing a child to harmful material. The charges were filed in two separate cases in May 2016 and in July 2016 in Marathon County Circuit Court.
After the verdict was read, Buntrock, who had been free on a cash bond, was immediately remanded to the Marathon County Jail to await sentencing.
Buntrock faced similar charges in Lincoln County until those charges were transferred to Marathon County.
When police searched Buntrock’s home, they discovered small amounts of cocaine and marijuana, along with nude photos of the girl that were stored on his phone, court documents state.
Months after his arrest, Buntrock reportedly wrote several letters making threats to the victim in the sexual assault case and the victim’s family members, resulting in additional charges in Lincoln County. As a result of those letters, Buntrock’s bond amount was increased from $50,000 cash to $100,000 cash. Two counts of attempting to intimidate a victim were dismissed when the case was transferred to Marathon County.
Buntrock, who was a principal in the former Metro Cab Company in Wausau, has a prior criminal record for negligent operation of a motor vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia and three drunken driving convictions, court records show.
A sentencing date has not yet been set. Buntrock now faces a maximum penalty of more than 200 years in the Wisconsin Prison System.
