OnFocus – Former Police Chief Rick Gramza will face a 12-person jury in a trial scheduled to begin December 15 in Wood County Court. Gramza faces charges of 4th-degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct. (Felony charges were previously dropped.)
Gramza is free on a $10,000 signature bond. Pat Zeps is serving as Acting Chief for the Marshfield Police Department until further decisions are made.
A final pre-trial is also scheduled for November 15.
Background
On November 6, 2020, the City was formally advised that City of Marshfield Chief of Police Rick Gramza would be facing criminal charges involving misconduct in office, fourth degree sexual assault, and disorderly conduct. Gramza made his initial court appearance on December 23.
On December 29, the City of Marshfield Common Council unanimously authorized City Administrator Steve Barg to proceed with filing charges with the Police & Fire Commission against Marshfield Police Chief Rick Gramza.
In December, Gramza appeared in Wood County Circuit Court, at which time a $10,000 signature bond was set. Next, a Preliminary Hearing and Arraignment took place January 13.
In January 2021, Portage County Judge Thomas Eagon questioned whether Gramza’s actions with a department employee constituted felony misconduct, and special prosecutors had until January 27 to respond and prove that Gramza was acting in his official capacity (as chief of police) when Gramza allegedly had sexual contact with the listed employee.
Gramza’s defense attorney, Gary Kryshak, then had 10 days to respond. On February 18, Eagon ruled to drop the felony charges against Gramza.
Gramza resigned in March 2021 and the City’s hearing against him was cancelled.
Editor’s Note: A previous article listed “misconduct in office” as being part of the case. That has since been changed on the WCCA website. We have updated the article to reflect the change.
RELATED: https://www.onfocus.news/police-chief-investigation-addressed-at-common-council/
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Author: News Desk
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