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SALT LAKE CITY — A Millcreek man accused of plying a teenage baby sitter with sex and drugs has pleaded guilty to reduced charges, while a change of plea hearing has been scheduled for his wife, who is charged in the same case.
Louis Wilhelm, 35, pleaded guilty Tuesday to two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old, a third-degree felony. Each charge carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
Additional charges against Wilhelm were dismissed in conjunction with his plea. He was originally charged with four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, a second-degree felony; five counts of endangerment of a child, a third degree felony; and nine counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a third-degree felony.
His wife, Samantha Wilhelm, 28, is charged with 10 third-degree felonies: nine counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and one count of endangerment of a child. A change of plea hearing for her has been scheduled for Feb. 1.
The couple is accused of plying their teenage baby sitter with sex and drugs.
Police say the girl had been caring for Samantha Wilhelm's children for several years. The couple drank and smoked marijuana with the girl, and on one occasion, Samantha Wilhelm used acid with her, charging documents state.
The husband and wife "discussed all the risks" with the girl about a week before starting a sexual relationship with her, then went on to have sex with her several times, according to the charges.
"They … knew it wasn't legal because of (the baby sitter's) age, and knew what would happen if they got caught," the charges state.
Motions to reduce Louis Wilhelm's bail and release him from the Salt Lake County Jail were denied, according to court records. Samantha Wilhelm was released from jail last month.
Separate case
Louis Wilhelm also pleaded guilty Tuesday in a separate case filed in 2014 — he and his wife were both charged in 3rd District Court with endangerment of a child causing injury, a second-degree felony, after their 2-year-old daughter was admitted to Primary Children's Hospital testing positive for THC, having ingested cannabinoids, according to the charges.
Louis Wilhelm pleaded guilty to the charge as a class A misdemeanor. Sentencing in both cases has been set for Feb. 1.
A change of plea for Samantha Wilhelm has also been scheduled on Feb. 1 in the child endangerment case, according to court records.
In that case, Samantha Wilhelm told police they had gone out drinking the night of April 4, 2014, then come home to take drugs with people they had met at the bar. On the morning of April 6, 2014, the couple found the girl was having difficulty waking up and that her legs were "jiggly," charges state. Louis Wilhelm began driving the girl to the hospital, then called for an ambulance.
A third defendant who was living in the home at the time, Madeline Warner, is also charged in the case. A warrant was issued for her arrest in October 2014 when she failed to appear for a hearing.
