Keshena man pleads guilty to child sex assault

A former Keshena man faces a recommended 18 to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty Friday in federal court to committing a sex act with a 9-year-old girl.

Gerald L. Pamaska Jr., 54, also known as “Doon,” had sexual contact with the girl on July 15, 2019, at the Menominee Casino Resort, according to the plea agreement.

The agreement stated the girl and her mother were staying at the resort in what she believed was 2019. She said that a relative was babysitting her but left the hotel room and returned a short time later with Pamaska Jr., who the girl knew as “Doon.”

Pamaska took the girl to the swimming pool and then returned with her to the hotel room. After the girl changed into pajamas, Pamaska put her on the bed, pulled down her pants and had oral sexual contact with her. The girl said the contact occurred several times before she eventually went to sleep.

While interviewed by a FBI agent and a tribal detective, Pamaska admitted to performing the sex act on the girl “at least twice.”

The girl reported the incident to authorities on April 12, 2022, went she was 13 years old.

Pamaska pled to knowingly engaged in a sexual act with another person, who was not capable of appraising the nature of the conduct.

At sentencing, Pamaska faces maximum statuary penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine, five years supervised release and restitution to the victim. However, his attorney, Thomas Phillip, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrew Maier agreed to recommend a sentence from the advisory guideline range calculated at 18 to 25 years.

District Judge William Griesbach is not bound by their recommendation and can impose a sentence up to the statutory maximum.

Sentencing was set for July 24.

Pamaska was indicted in December. He remains detained at the Green Bay Correctional Institution.