Willard James Stahl, 34 of Austin, was found guilty of multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct Wednesday.

District Court Judge Fred A. Wellmann ordered sentencing in early-May. Stahl remains in the Mower County Jail.

The trial began Monday in Mower County Third Judicial District Court. Final arguments were heard early Wednesday afternoon after which the case went to the jury.

After 2 1/2 hours of deliberation, the jury returned the guilty on all counts verdict at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Nancy Gruckow, a public defender, represented the defendant.

Stahl was charged with three counts of first degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of criminal sexual conduct.

The victim, a minor under the age of 13, testified at the trial as did other Stahl family members.

Stahl was arrested Aug. 25, 2000.

Jonathan Olson, an Assistant Mower County Attorney, prosecuted the case.

"I'm very pleased with the jury verdict," Olson said. "This trial was very hard on the family. A lot of family members testified at the trial as well as the victim. They were able to obtain some closure."

10-year-old injured

in accident

GRAND MEADOW -- Christopher Greenwood, 10, was hospitalized in Rochester following a Sunday accident.

The son of Mark Greenwood, Grand Meadow, was injured when a golf cart in which he was riding ran over him.

According to a Mower County Sheriff's Office report, Greenwood was a passenger in a golf cart driven by a friend, Seth W. Malloy, 11, of Grand Meadow.

The mishap occurred near 7 p.m. Sunday on the playground at the old Grand Meadow public school building near the city's downtown area.

The youth was transported by a Mayo One crew from the scene after the Grand Meadow Area Ambulance Service gave first aid at the scene.

The accident remains under investigation by the Grand Meadow Police Department.

Vehicles collide

A two-vehicle accident early Thursday evening sent two drivers to Austin Medical Center hospital.

According to an Austin Police Department report, two vehicles collided at a city intersection.

One of the drivers was identified as Mark J. Williams, Austin, and the other was identified as Vederan Pejick, also of Austin.

Pejick was driving a vehicle registered to his father, according to police. The parent was a passenger of the youth.

The mishap occurred at the intersection of 11th Street and First Avenue SW, according to police.

The drivers were each taken to AMC. A Gold Cross Ambulance Service crew took Williams and a private party transported Pejick.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com