MEGAN WILDER

FLORENCE, Wis. — A former Long Lake, Wis., town clerk convicted of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from the municipality will spend a minimum of 1 1/2 years in prison.

Megan Wilder, 39, will also serve three years extended supervision as well as five years probation for two counts of theft in a business setting, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison.

Additionally, three years of incarceration and two years of extended supervision were held in abeyance.

Wilder was sentenced March 16 in Florence County Circuit Court after a restitution hearing, where she was ordered to pay $191,333.28 in restitution.

Florence County District Attorney Doug Drexler said Wilder once held a position of trust in the town of Long Lake, but had eroded that trust by way of her crimes.

“The public deserved better than Mrs. Wilder,” Drexler said. “In this time of need for confidence in our government, to have a person like this makes it harder for everybody else.”

Drexler acknowledged Wilder had no criminal record, but said her crimes were serious.

“We need to send a message, a strong message, that these types of acts will not be tolerated,” Drexler said.

Defense attorney Roy Polich said Wilder stole to provide for her family and though he noted her crimes were serious, contrasted her with violent criminals.

“This is not a drug case, this is not a gun case, this is not a knife case,” Polich said, adding the recommendation in the pre-sentence investigation report for two five-month jail sentences with prison held in abeyance was appropriate.

Long Lake resident Carol Albers said while she did not condone or understand Wilder’s crimes, she believed the total amount of money stolen was inflated. Patricia Perras, another Long Lake resident, asked for leniency on behalf of Wilder, adding she was disgusted others were trying to make an example of her.

But Long Lake Town Board Supervisor Tina Sonkowsky characterized Wilder as skilled and calculated, claiming Wilder opened accounts using the town’s information but for her own use and altered bank statements and records to conceal her embezzlement.

Wilder apologized to her family and the people of Long Lake for her actions.

“There’s no excuse for what I’ve done and I’m truly sorry,” Wilder said, adding she hoped in time she could be forgiven for her crimes.

Florence County Circuit Judge Leon Stenz said though it was true Wilder had no criminal record, she had committed multiple crimes with conscious effort during her time as clerk.

“Every time she stole, used that credit card, it required criminal thinking. It required a criminal act,” Stenz said. “For every time she cashed a check, for every dime she took, she made a decision: I’m going to take this from my community, I’m going to take this from my friends, I’m going to take this from my neighbors.”

According to the criminal complaint, Long Lake Town Treasurer Sandy Hodgson alerted Florence County Sheriff Dan Miller on June 20 she had discovered Wilder appeared to have used the town’s credit cards for personal use.

In a recorded interview, Wilder — elected as town clerk in December 2016 –reportedly admitted using the cards since February 2017 for her husband’s truck payments as well as buying craft supplies, Tupperware, Girl Scout cookies and children’s clothing, among other things.

Wilder pleaded guilty Jan. 21 in exchange for the dismissal of an additional count of theft in a business setting as well as misconduct in public office, a felony punishable by up to three years and six months in prison. Both charges were read into the record for restitution.

Brian Christensen can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or bchristensen@ironmountaindailynews.com.