Former Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan must pay $200 in fines



SHEBOYGAN (WITI) -- A Sheboygan County judge ordered former Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan on Wednesday, February 20th to pay $200 in fines after Ryan agreed to plead no contest to two misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges. That's $100 for each charge.

By agreeing to the plea deal, Ryan avoids going to trial on fourth-degree sexual assault charges.

Ryan, a self-described alcoholic, was originally charged for allegedly groping a woman in an Elkhart Lake bar on July 23, 2011. Ryan admitted to being at Siebkens Resort in Elkhart Lake, but denies ever touching the alleged victim.

"I did, from the start, deny any allegations of sexual assault and I hold true to that today. Nothing ever happened. There was no incident. There was no impropriety whatsoever," Ryan said.

Sheboygan County Prosecutor Joe DeCecco says he agreed to a plea deal to prevent the victim from testifying.

"Under no circumstances was what happened okay. He keeps denying this stuff because he was so drunk. Other people witnessed this. That's a pretty sad situation. Just because you're drunk and you don't remember what you did doesn't mean you did not do it. We have four witnesses that saw him do this," DeCecco said.

Ryan told the court on Wednesday, he agreed to the plea to avoid additional embarrassment to his family and friends. Prosecutors agreed to the plea to avoid putting the victim on the stand.

"She didn't want her face plastered on the papers and on television," DeCecco said.

Ryan continues to believe the alleged victim was lying and could make slanderous statements in a trial that could be on the news.

"One of the main reasons I agreed to (a plea deal) is (the media)," Ryan said.

Now, the former Sheboygan mayor who said he had never received a speeding ticket has a criminal record.

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