Joe J. Cool entered guilty pleas Tuesday to first degree sexual assault of a Lincoln boy and possession of child pornography at his Palmyra residence.
Otoe County Attorney David Partsch and Public Defender Michael Ziskey told District Judge Randall Rehmeier they would jointly recommend a sentence of 20 years in prison for Cool, 39, formerly known as Brent Wheatley.
Partsch said agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation approached Cool at his Lincoln workplace as part of an investigation into child pornography that began in California.
Partsch said Cool offered to the officers that he had a problem and was having an inappropriate sexual relationship with an 11-year-old.
The Nebraska State Patrol and Lincoln police were then involved in the investigation.
Partsch said Cool admitted to meeting the minor child when they were neighbors in Lincoln and told investigators they had sexual contact at his home in Palmyra prior to April 21, 2010.
He said investigators found images depicting child pornography on a computer in Cool’s home.
After Partsch said he would recommend a sentence of 20 years in prison, Judge Rehmeier asked if that would mean a sentence of one to 20 years.
“The recommendation would be 20 to 20 years,” Partsch said.
The judge told Cool he would consider the joint recommendation, but the sentence of the court on Oct. 12 could be different.
