Glidden man’s sentencing rescheduled due ongoing tech outage

A Glidden man accused of sexually assaulting a teenager in his car was to be sentenced on July 19, but the hearing was rescheduled due to a worldwide technical issue.

Donald Mertig, 54, was set to go to trial in May, but decided to accept a plea agreement instead. He pleaded no contest to charges of second-degree sexual assault of a child under 16, child enticement and strangulation and suffocation. Charges of first-degree sexual assault — intercourse with a person under 16, exposing his genitals in a public area and false imprisonment were dismissed but read in.

According to court documents, the victim met Mertig because her then-boyfriend hung out with Mertig’s sons. They attended a Fourth of July party together about two years ago. She then attended a Christmas party at Mertig’s cabin in Shanagolden in 2021. During the party, she said Mertig came up behind her, pinned her arms back and kissed her. On Jan. 1, 2022, there was a birthday party for her friend at the same cabin. She texted one of his sons to pick her up and take her to the cabin. Mertig’s son picked her up and then dropped her off at Marion Park in Glidden. Eventually Mertig picked her up at the park.

Instead of going to the cabin, Mertig drove them into the woods near Glidden. After grabbing her by the back of the head and kissing her, Mertig told her to get in the back seat of his vehicle and calm down.

He told her to lie down, but she said no. Mertig then grabbed her by the throat, removed her underwear and forced himself inside of her. The victim said she didn’t know how to get away from Mertig.

Afterwards, Mertig offered her $100 and told her “to buy something nice,” according to court documents.

Mertig’s attorney Kenneth Ryder said in a sentencing memorandum that Mertig had no prior criminal history. Mertig has served as a volunteer firefighter and started Little Angels Charities to raise funding for kids in need.

The sentencing hearing has been rescheduled for July 26.