The owner of Seymour bowling alley was convicted of choking a 13-year-old boy during an argument and sentenced to probation.
James Beilfuss, 65, pleaded no contest Dec. 12 to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and misdemeanor battery, which was reduced from an original charge of child abuse, according to court records. Beilfuss also pleaded guilty to a felony charge of strangulation and suffocation.
According to a criminal complaint, Beilfuss grabbed the 13-year-old boy’s neck during an argument at Wally’s Seymour Bowl, 119 Lake Road, which Beilfuss owns. The boy was at the bowling alley for an after-school bowling league when Beilfuss approached the boy and his friend because the boy “wanted to bowl in a specific way with a specific kind of ball,” but Beilfuss did not want him to, the complaint said.
The boy told police he and Beilfuss got into an argument where they were both yelling when Beilfuss grabbed the boy’s neck, squeezing enough that the boy said he could not breathe until Beilfuss let go, the complaint said.
Beilfuss told police that the boy “wanted to bowl in a 2-fingered bowling style,” which Beilfuss disagreed with, the complaint said. Beilfuss said he grabbed the boy “in the heat of the moment,” did not think it could have done any harm to the boy and he stopped when he realized it “wasn’t right.” Beilfuss said he had been having problems with the teen since the previous week, according to the complaint.
For the two misdemeanor charges, Beilfuss was sentenced to two years of probation, court records show. As conditions of his probation, Beilfuss is required to undergo an anger management assessment and follow through with any recommended counseling, as well as write apology letters to the victim and the Seymour School District.
For the felony charge, Beilfuss was offered a deferred prosecution agreement. A deferred prosecution agreement requires the defendant to admit all of the elements of the crime they were charged with and follow conditions set by the District Attorney’s Office and Department of Corrections for two years. If the program is successfully completed, the charge will be dismissed.
Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at vmbarrett@usatodayco.com or (920) 431-8314.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Seymour bowling alley owner accused of choking teen sentenced to probation
Reporting by Vivian Barrett, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Appleton Post-Crescent
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