Possible deal for man accused of sexually assaulting girl at Tundra Lodge

GREEN BAY (NBC26) — Mauricio Powless, now 19, is accused of sexually abusing three girls, ages 10, 13 and 13. His lawyers are now indicating that he may change his plea to guilty after originally pleading not guilty and not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

(The following is a transcript of the entire broadcast)

We're at the Brown County Courthouse following a case we've been covering since the beginning of the year. The 19-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting three girls at a Green Bay hotel was back in court Tuesday.

Prosecutors accuse Mauricio Powless of inappropriately touching girls in the hallways and elevator of the Tundra Lodge.

We spoke to the families of two of the victims earlier this year – one said they were angry; another said it had left them feeling permanently unsafe.

Although it appeared Powless would go to trial in April after pleading not guilty, his lawyers indicated Tuesday that they would seek a hearing or a settlement.

“Our request today is for a 60-day adjournment, but a preliminary hearing, in the hope that the [psychological] The evaluation can be completed,” said attorney Jeff Kippa. “This gives [Powless’ other attorney] and I would like to say something more substantive about the settlement negotiations.”

Powless pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity in April.

“I told him I was going to have him psychologically evaluated,” Kippa said. “I worked with a psychologist to get into prison. The logistics proved more difficult.”

We contacted Tundra Lodge and received a call back, but the hotel declined to comment.

Powless is expected back in court at the end of October for a guilty plea hearing.