I worked closely with Bruce for 2 years and know that his work ethics were impecable. There were definitely ex-wife problems beyond measure. Bruce taught his family members to do the right thing and he may not have always been popular for it. A liar, no matter what age, who sees the consequences they have caused can become so totally distraught that they cannot even face thier own concience. Yes, I believe that he could have been kohersed IN NAPERVILLE into pleading guilty to protect the family member from suffering a court trial, because, to him that could be the right thing for this circumstance. Bruce is not stupid and knows right from wrong, and would give his life to protect his family members. NAPERVILLE has another high profile case labeled "CLOSED" on thier books. And Bruce will have given his lifelong reputation. Minimun sentence, sure, the judge believes this story!

To this date the man in question has a year left on his sentence. When he gets out he has to register for the rest of his life, he's not sure what to do with himself once he is out. I firmly believe that he did not do it. And Justin how can you say what you said if you knew him for 2 years, just like that we turn our backs to something we read, or something we heard about somebody. What happened to sticking around and helping those that have fallen. I have been the ONLY, and I mean ONLY person that has been there for him. May God have mercy on all your souls.

i dealt with Bruce for two years. He was a great guy to be around. i also came into contact with the victim on several occasions and it ABSOLUTELY SICKENS ME that i didn't suspect any of this. to think i had a molester in my home drinking beer with me watching Monday night football!!!!! My opinion is they should castrate him and blind him so he will have to go through the same pain as he did to that poor child. GUILTY AS CHARGED!!! NO MISTAKE!!

i am a family member of tyshawn viel... first of all let me say he is not a scumbag... he is someones child also let me say that he is a african american male so i am sure the difference in the sentencing has a lot to do with his race.. dupage county is known for harsher sentencing for african american males versus white males ..... find two men who commit the same crime and the white male will always get a lighter sentence...this is a FACT not fiction... 3years for kicking a officer versus 18 months for sexual assualt give me a break people

I am the family member of the victim, and I can tell you that this person definitely committed the crime and our family has never suffered more. We have suffered more that anyone who has not experienced this type of tradgedy could ever imagine. It has turned our lives upside down. The fact that he only got four years was completely devastating to our family. The only way to get more jail time was to put the victim through a trial and cause more emotional trauma. The states attorneys by the way considered the verdict a good result. Let this happen to their family member and we will see if they change their minds about the verdict being a good outcome. This type of crime is so incredibly unimaginable and if you only knew the details, you would be crying hysterically. This man has manipulated the victim, and other members of our family. There are family members that he turned against us before the truth came out and they have yet to contact us to apologize for believing in him, making me think that they think he did not do it. If they were there the many nights comforting the victim, they would know that he did do it. If they were there when the family was hoping the victim would not committ suicide, praying that they were still there in the morning, they would know that he did it. If you had any idea what we have been through, you would never say that he did not do it. I know that people get wrongly accused all the time, this is not the case. And the slap in the face to the victim and our family is that he only has to serve 4 years. Please pray for the victim and our family that we might try to move on and have happy lives from here on.

Comments for story on Naperville man Jan 8,08 Bruce Weetelka This man was guilty the state has substantial evidence against him, why don't you go to court house and read court documents there are public records and then make your comments. I can't believe that someone would be that dumb to enter comments that he was innocent. This was terrible crime he committed I really feel bad for the family member in this article How do think they feel and how much damage was done. Did we ever think of that.

This is a very sensitive topic and not something for complete strangers to discuss. There are always two sides to every story. The only people who know the truth are the two involved and God.

I pray that these accusations are wrong. My heart goes out to any child who may have been subject to these wrongful acts.

Young people are very impressionable. I hope that there were no outside influences encouraging this young person to make such accusations. A man's life could be destroyed because of it. And what does that teach our children, the future of this country? That it’s OK to lie just for revenge. It’s sad. Very sad.

And did you ever think that maybe the predator only took the plea bargin as to not put the child through anymore than they'd already been through. Maybe the judge wasn't so convinced he did it afterall.

What if the ex-wife of this so called predator made up the story to get back at him for not giving her enough money? Never thought of that did we.......

justice,

I would agree with you that there are often irrational disparities among criminal sentences.

I realize that this topic was posted back in October, but I had to post a comment here after reading both yesterday's and today's editions (Wednesday, January 9, 2008, and Thursday, January 10, 2008). Sadly, my post appears to be the first for this topic.

Here is the text of the article:

== Beginning of article ==

"A Naperville man has been sentenced to four years in prison for the sexual assault of a relative.

Bruce T. Wertelka, 36, of 1413 Fairway Drive pleaded guilty to criminal sexual assault of a family member under 18 years of age, a Class 1 felony punishable by four to 15 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

In exchange for his guilty plea Tuesday in DuPage County Circuit Court, Judge Robert Anderson imposed the minimum prison sentence, but required that Wertelka serve a minimum of 85 percent of the term.

Additionally, Wertelka will have to register for the rest of his life with the Illinois State Police's sex offender database.

At the time of his 2007 arrest, authorities said Wertelka's victim was a relative, and that the crime was a matter of 'ongoing abuse' occurring for at least three years."

== End of article ==

I am OUTRAGED that this scumbag received the MINIMUM sentence for "ongoing abuse occuring for at least three years." How can this be?

Now, contrast Bruce's sexual assault sentence of just 4 years to Tyshawn Viel's sentence of 3 years for "aggravated battery of a sheriff's deputy whom he kicked in the hand while in custody at the jail" as he awaited his sentencing for an armed robbery of a Marathon gas station. (FYI: This scumbag received 5.5 years for the armed robbery and 3 years for the battery and must serve them consecutively for a total of 8.8 years.)

How the heck is it possible to get just 4 years for the three-year ongoing sexual assault of a family member who is under the age of 18, but be sentenced to 3 years for kicking a sheriff's deputy in the hand? Does this make any sense to any clear-thinking individual???

Something is seriously wrong here!!