Man ordered to have no ‘violent contact’ with daughter
By Vicky Wedig
Editor
A Delavan man known for his effort to restore the city’s Civil War monument was sentenced to two years probation March 4 for physically abusing his daughter.
Kenneth M. Wargo, 45, was scheduled to go on trial Monday on the felony charge but instead pleaded guilty to the offense March 4.
The offense carried potential jail time of six years, but a prison sentence was withheld and Wargo was sentenced to two years probation and to pay restitution of $1,032. He was ordered to have no “violent contact” with his 7-year-old daughter.
Wargo initially pleaded not guilty to a felony count of child abuse, intentionally causing harm; and a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge.
According to the criminal complaint:
A man attending Sunday service at St. Andrew Catho-lic Church in Delavan on June 29 saw a man, later identified as Wargo, pulling on a young girl’s hair. The man said the girl appeared terrified and her eyes were red and swollen and he was sufficiently concerned to leave the church to call 911, according to the complaint. The man said when Wargo saw him leave with his phone in his hand, Wargo left the church through a side door.
On July 1, a forensic in-terviewer spoke to Wargo’s 7-year-old daughter, who said her father always pulls her hair, and the last time he did so was at St. Andrew’s Church. The girl said Wargo has pulled her hair out of her head, and a detective saw that the girl had a patch of hair missing from her head, ac-cording to the complaint.
Wargo is known locally for his an effort to restore the Civil War monument in Spring Grove Cemetery in 2012. He ran for Delavan Common Council against incumbent Jeff Johnson in April and was rumored to have plans to run against Alderman Ryan Schroeder in April.
