11/16/2019 7:30:00 AM Probable cause found in case involving
sex offender
Abigail Bostwick Of The Lakeland Times
A convicted sex offender currently residing in Minocqua who allegedly failed to keep up his state-ordered registry status has waived his right to a preliminary hearing in Oneida County Circuit Court.
In 2008 Matthew K. Kummer, 48, was convicted of possessing child pornography.
He was a Rhinelander resident at the time. Kummer, who pled not guilty, could have faced another 17 other child pornography counts, but those were dismissed and read into the record at sentencing before Judge Mark Mangerson.
As part of the sentence, Hummer was required to file with the state sex offender registry, which includes notification of any and all address changes.
According to the criminal complaint filed in a new case in late October, Kummer attempted to pick up a friend's daughter from Rhinelander middle school when a county deputy questioned him and learned of his restrictions and background.
Kummer admitted to the deputy he was a registered sex offender and had not provided notice or gotten permission to be on school property. During a search, images of child pornography were found on Kummer's phone. According to the complaint, it appeared he took the photos himself in local areas.
A search of Kummer's apartment resulted in the discovery of thousands of other child pornography images, the criminal complaint indicates.
Kummer is facing a number of felonies including failing to maintain sex offender register, two counts registered sex offender intentionally photographing a minor without consent, and 10 counts possession of child pornography.
There is also a misdemeanor for knowingly failing to notify a school of his sex offender status.
During a court appearance on Wednesday, Nov. 13, public defender Mary Burns announced Kummer had decided to waive his right to a preliminary hearing. Judge Michael Bloom then ruled there is enough probable cause for the case to move foward.
Kummer, who remains in custody on a $100,000 cash bond, is set to enter a plea Dec.2.
According to court records, he also has prior convictions in Lincoln and Oneida counties for offenses ranging from causing property damage to violating restraining orders.
The Northwoods River News | Walker Communications, LLC 232 S. Courtney Street, Rhinelander, WI 54501 | Office (715) 365-6397 | Fax (715) 365-6361
Corporate billing office: The Lakeland Times / Lakeland Printing Inc. | P.O. Box 790, Minocqua, WI 54548 | (715) 356-5236 | Fax (715) 358-2121 Members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, Wisconsin Community Papers, Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce, Minocqua Area Chamber of Commerce
