Registered sex offender arrested in Bonita Springs

Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 2:21 pm

Registered sex offender arrested in Bonita Springs
NBC2 News
Last updated on: 1/28/2006 9:21:55 PM

LEE COUNTY â€” Lee County Sheriffâ€™s deputies arrested Edward Ziesmer in Bonita Springs for child abduction and sexual assault.

Ziesmer is a registered sex offender from Wisconsin, but had not registered with the state of Florida since he moved here in April 2003.

Residents witnessed Ziesmer grab the 4 year old girl, cover her with his shirt and run in to the woods. The citizens flagged down Sgt. Sedwick, who was driving down Iowa St. in Bonita Springs on routine patrol.

Sgt. Sedwick found Ziesmer hiding roughly 50 yards into the woods. The investigation determined that the suspect had sexually battered the child prior to the arrival of the deputies.

Edward Ziesmer is being charged with 1 count of kidnapping, and 2 counts of Capital Sexual Battery.

Â© 2006 by NBC2 NEWS. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=5653&z=3&p=

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2006 7:57 am

Ziesmer pleads not guilty to girl's rape
Edward Ziesmer is charged with two counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12 and one count of kidnapping

By Nicholas P. Alajakis (Contact)

Tuesday, February 28, 2006

A convicted sex offender pleaded not guilty Monday to the rape and kidnapping of a young Bonita Springs girl last month.

Edward Ziesmer, 61, formerly of 27951 New York St., No. 3, Bonita Springs, entered the plea during his arraignment in front of Lee County Circuit Judge James R. Thompson.

He is charged with two counts of sexual battery on a victim under 12 years old and one count of kidnapping.

Ziesmer was arrested Jan. 28 after Lee County sheriff's deputies responded to a call of a man grabbing a young girl off the street near Iowa Street and Bonita Beach Road.

When deputies arrived they found Ziesmer with the girl in a nearby wooded area, just yards from his trailer home. Reports state he had sexually assaulted the girl, described as "considerably" younger than 12, before the deputies arrived.

Ziesmer's attorney, public defender Joseph William Miskovich, could not be reached for comment Monday on his client's plea.

Ziesmer has a history as a sex offender. Court records show he spent a year in jail in the late 1980s for sexually abusing his then 7-year-old niece while living in Baraboo, Wis. As part of his probation, Ziesmer was instructed to register as a sex offender for life, but he had not done so since moving to New York Street.

His arrest sparked community criticism about the safety of some neighborhoods. Ziesmer's neighbors said after the arrest that the abduction and rape of a young girl was another black eye for an area already filled with crime problems.

Ziesmer is being held in the Lee County jail without bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 17.

http://www.bonitanews.com/news/2006/feb/28/ziesmer_pleads_not_guilty_girls_rape/?local_news

Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 8:39 am

Sex offender ruled incompetent to stand trial
By Kristen Zambo

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

A convicted sex offender accused of pulling a young girl into a vacant lot and raping her in January has been ruled incompetent to stand trial on kidnapping and sexual assault charges.

Edward Ziesmer, formerly of 27951 New York St., No. 3, in Bonita Springs, was arrested Jan. 28 after deputies said he grabbed a girl described as "considerably'' younger than 12 and sexually assaulted her. The assault happened near Ziesmer's home.

During a less-than-30-minute hearing before Lee County Circuit Judge James A. Thompson, psychologist Paul Kling and psychiatrist Frederick Schaerf both testified Ziesmer was mentally incompetent. Schaerf said Ziesmer has dementia that could have been brought on by alcohol abuse, liver cancer or Alzheimer's disease.

Ziesmer has remained in the Lee County Jail since his arrest. Now that he has been ruled incompetent, he will be transferred to a state mental health facility, a process that usually takes 4-6 weeks. Mental health officials will prepare an updated mental-health report on Ziesmer for the judge within the next three to six months.

Ziesmer has a history as a sex offender. Court records show he spent a year in jail in the late 1980s for sexually abusing his then 7-year-old niece while living in Baraboo, Wis. As part of his probation, Ziesmer was instructed to register as a sex offender for life, but he had not done so since moving to New York Street.

http://www.bonitanews.com/news/2006/aug/22/sex_offender_ruled_incompetent_stand_trial/?latest