DES MOINES – A Hampton man who was arrested last year for sexual abuse of children has received sentences of suspended prison and probation for his crimes.
On Friday, October 28, 2022, 73-year-old Daniel Wiechmann (pictured, above) was arrested at his residence in Hampton, Iowa by Troopers with the Iowa State Patrol on several warrants as a result of a joint investigation conducted by the Ankeny Police Department, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and the Polk County Attorney’s Office, which began in October of 2021.
On October 25, 2021, a report was filed with the Ankeny Police Department regarding historical sexual abuse that had been occurring between Wiechmann and several juvenile step-grandchildren over the course of several years. Due to the fact that abuse was alleged to have taken place in multiple counties in Iowa, and that Wiechmann had served as an attorney in the Franklin County area, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was asked to assist. Due to a conflict of interest, the Franklin County Attorney’s Office requested that the Polk County Attorney’s Office serve as a special prosecutor for this investigation.
As a result of the investigation, Wiechmann was charged with one count of Sexual Abuse in the 3rd degree (class C Felony), two counts of Assault with Intent to Commit Sexual Abuse (Aggravated Misdemeanor), one count of Indecent Contact with a Child (Aggravated Misdemeanor) and one count of Indecent Exposure (Serious Misdemeanor). These charges were filed in Polk, Dallas, and Franklin Counties. The Des Moines Register reported that “because Wiechmann served as the Franklin County attorney between 2009 and 2014, the Polk County Attorney’s Office served as a special prosecutor in the case.”
At trial, Wiechmann admitted to inappropriately touching two minors between 2014 and 2019. In Polk county, he received four years in prison (suspended) and two years probation. On another charge in Dallas county, he received 14 days in prison with a 351 days suspended and two years of probation.
Franklin County, outhouse of Iowa.