MASON CITY – A man accused of sex crimes against a little girl cried as his prison sentence was handed down today.
Daniel J. Wigant, age 25 of Clear Lake, faced four serious charges which were brought against him in August of 2015 by Clear Lake police: Two counts of lascivious acts with a child and two counts of second degree sexual abuse. Wigant was accused of sexual contact with a female child just 4 years of age. He was accused of molesting the child on July 10 and again on July 16 of 2015.
Wigant initially entered a not guilty plea and was represented by public defender Susan Flander. He was to face a jury trial on November 17, 2015 and remained locked up in the county jail on “special status” on $70,000 cash-only bond.
However, after much legal negotiations took place, a court hearing was held in June and Wigant entered guilty pleas to two counts of lascivious acts with a child, both class C felonies. He had been offered that plea deal months ago but resisted taking it. Wigant awaited a sentencing hearing scheduled for August 8 and stayed in jail until today when that hearing was held.
The child victim’s mother told NIT after the guilty pleas that “I hope he rots in hell for what he did to my child and that no other parents or child goes through this ever.”
A source close to the case also told NIT that as soon as Wigant got to jail he was moved to protective status because he “had a couple run in with guys at the jail… his first night there he got moved because the guys (found) out why he was there.”
It soon became apparent that the jail was not a safe place for Wigant, even on “special status”. Wigant was assaulted earlier this year by John Daniel Murphy, who was charged with a felony for the attack. Murphy later took a plea deal to a lesser charge of assault.
Finally, at today’s sentencing hearing, Wigant was sentenced to 10 years in prison on both counts of lascivious acts with a child, to be served concurrently. He will serve life on the sex offender registry, NIT is told.
Wigant attended today’d hearing in person and cried when the sentence was handed down, spectators told NIT.
Also in attendance was the victim’s mother and biological father.
“I was so happy but overwhelmed at the same time,” mom told NIT.
Wigant remains in the county jail, awaiting transport to prison.
For the anonymous posters talking about their family and know what happened In court sure do like to stay hidden behind anonymous..but instead of me saying anything negative about either side I say that we pray for both sides. Everyone who comments and who aren’t involved don’t know the while story except for what the party is being accused of. The good Lord will seek justice and when the time is right the truth will told. I pray to Jesus for both sides because who are we to judge. One day we will be judged in front of God himself. And it stayed in the bible that if we judge our enemies or other persons that we are no better than the ones being accused.
Daniel was in my employ. Hard to believe this happened. Never saw this demon in him. I sincerely hope all the families will be able to find peace.
It’s crazy how we are still being attacked, we have not posted negative things about his family so please, please leave us alone. We just want the best for our granddaughter and believe it or not the best for his family.
How about you come out from hiding behind “anonymous”? My family is bad news? Let’s see, zero sex offenses, zero family members who’ve been in prison, zero attacks on victims of sexual abuse. The Wigant clan cannot claim so much, how about you post your real name, or better yet, swing over to FB and post there so we can all see what kind of POS attacks sex abuse vicitims.
Doug Holmes
Grandfather of an abused child.
That’s why your attacking us and we just want to protect a child
he thinks the county jail is a bad place to be, wait til he gets to the BIG house, cons don’t like child molesters and he is yet another ones butthole that is gunna go from o to O
Your comment show how sic our society is. While is is a crime (as it should be) to molest a child, society seems to think it’s ok to sexually molest an inmate.
How sic is that?
He most likely will not be housed with general population. Just like Tim Steven Benjigerdes,when he is sent back for parole violation.Lucky for them, to bad young girls did not have way to protect themselves from predators.
Wrong people who are in Christ will not be judged for sin only rewards, good men do not molest children.
In my view if he is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, he needs to be executed.
I do not feel that anyone involved in anything involving a child should have the right to “plead to a lessor crime”. Why should they be given a break? What break did that child get??
No DANIEL deserves EVERYTHING he got today he deserves to pay for what he did to that child.. Feel sorry for his family they have a chomo in their family
Kellie, the victim isn’t mentioned because she is a minor and it is illegal to do so. By trying to point fingers her direction, you could be held liable. Daniel on the other hand, is not a minor and has pled guilty to his crime. Seems pretty cut and dried here…