To serve 270 days in Brown County Jail, up to 10 years probation

NEW ULM — A 41-year-old New Ulm man originally charged with 30 felony counts of possession of pornographic work in Brown County District Court last September received a stayed sentence Tuesday.

Brett D. Mathiowetz was fined $33,185 and sentenced up to 60 months in prison, stayed for up to 10 years supervised probation. He was ordered to serve 270 days in the Brown County Jail with work release, complete outpatient sex offender treatment, have no unsupervised contact with minors or unsupervised vulnerable adults.

Mathiowetz pleaded guilty to three counts of possession of pornographic work, minor under 14 in March. The remaining 27 counts were dismissed.

Brown County Attorney Chuck Hanson said he was disappointed in the sentence but that he understood Judge Robert Docherty’s thinking in the ruling that allows Mathiowetz to continue outpatient sex offender treatment and remain close to supportive family and friends instead of going to prison and not knowing if and when he could continue treatment.

“There are actual people who are real victims in this case,” said Assistant Brown County Attorney Paul Gunderson.

“The victims of these charges have real parents with real lives. Their victimization is ongoing,” said Gunderson.

St. Louis Park defense attorney Eric Doolittle said Mathiowetz only had traffic offenses prior to the porn charges.

Doolittle said Mathiowetz was cooperative with law enforcement and has supportive family and friends who wrote 22 letters on his behalf. Some of the letters read that what he did was out of character,” said Doolittle. “He’s particularly amenable to treatment. He already began individual therapy. He’s done everything he can to get over this. It’s unusual for somebody to be so active in therapy and so honest to so many people. Consider the totality of the man, not just these actions.”

Doolittle said people have seen Mathiowetz as a kind, compassionate person with people in his life that won’t leave him.

“My son was lost but has now been found,” said Brian Mathiowetz. “We want to be there for him. He wants to be a great dad. We don’t want walls between he and his family. We want to be there so he never falls into this ditch again.”

“He loves going to self improvement classes,” said Brett Mathiowetz’s mother Ronda. “He’s worked hard on personal, one-on-one counseling. He wants to be the best he can be.”

“I admit I had a problem and admit I continue to fight it today,” said Brett Mathiowetz. “I was sick. I couldn’t sleep and hardly eat. I am still crawling back. It will take a lot but I am working on it. I hope to make a positive impact in the future when I’m able. I’ve been in treatment six months, working hard to let it go and move on. I’m guilty. I despise what I did.”