A 32-year-old rural Iuka man has been sentenced to four years probation and 120 days of periodic imprisonment at the Marion County Jail on two counts of child pornography.
Jonathan Wuehler of Route 161 Extension had earlier entered an open guilty plea to the two charges in exchange for eight other counts being dropped.
Judge Mark Stedelin also ordered Wuehler to pay a $2,000 fine, court assessments, complete drug, alcohol, and mental health evaluation and any recommended treatment, and register as a convicted sex offender. The 120 days of periodic imprisonment is to be served on alternating weekends with no good time to be applied.
State’s Attorney Tim Hudspeth had asked for consecutive sentencing on the two charges for a total of 10 years in prison.
Wuehler’s attorney, Josh Reeves, argued for probation and provided letters of support from some of Wuehler’s family members.
Wuehler was originally arrested nearly two years ago for having a video on his phone that depicted a sex act between a woman and an underage person. The Marion County Sheriff’s Department was notified by a friend of Wuehler who had seen a video on Wuehler’s phone. It appeared the video was downloaded from the internet. Additional child pornography charges were added as the investigation continued.
