Walker man sentenced for harassment

BEMIDJI – A 21-year-old Walker man has been sentenced for felony harassment.

William Joseph Bedeau was sentenced Monday for felony harassment, violating a restraining order when the victim is under the age of 18 and the defendant is more than 36 months older than the victim.
Beltrami County District Judge Shari Schluchter sentenced Bedeau to 18 months in prison with the sentence stayed for five years. He must serve 151 days in jail and was placed on supervised probation for five years.
Bedeau, who pleaded guilty to the charge last month, must pay or work off a $1,000 fine and pay $160 in fees.
According to the criminal complaint:
Bedeau violated a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting a 14-year-old girl with whom he had developed a sexual relationship. The girl’s mother obtained the restraining order in February after Bedeau assisted the girl in running away from home.
The mother reported to police in March that Bedeau and the girl were communicating by telephone and Facebook messaging. Bedeau refered to the girl as “wifey” and indicates they are engaged.