Jury finds Zumhofe guilty on all charges

WILLMAR - One day after hearing Eugene Otto Zumhofe take the stand and deny all of the allegations of criminal sexual conduct against him, a Kandiyohi County jury returned guilty verdicts on all 12 counts. The jury returned guilty verdicts to six first-degree charges of criminal sexual conduct and six third-degree charges after 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The jury began deliberations about four hours earlier. Zumhofe, 62, of Cyrus, is a pro wrestler known as “Buck Rock ’N’ Roll Zumhofe.’’ He was taken into custody after the verdicts were returned. Attorneys in the case are presenting arguments in court this morning to determine if there were aggravating factors that could lead to an upward departure from sentencing guidelines. In a motion filed earlier with the court, prosecutors said they are seeking a lengthier sentence due to what they alleged was “particular cruelty’’ inflicted by Zumhofe on the victim. They also charge that he had a prior conviction for criminal sexual conduct and was a pattern sex offender. Zumhofe was accused of criminal sexual conduct against a close, female relative during a span of 12 years, beginning when she was 15 years old and living with him in New London. The victim, now 29, had testified.
WILLMAR - One day after hearing Eugene Otto Zumhofe take the stand and deny all of the allegations of criminal sexual conduct against him, a Kandiyohi County jury returned guilty verdicts on all 12 counts.The jury returned guilty verdicts to six first-degree charges of criminal sexual conduct and six third-degree charges after 4 p.m. on Wednesday. The jury began deliberations about four hours earlier.Zumhofe, 62, of Cyrus, is a pro wrestler known as “Buck Rock ’N’ Roll Zumhofe.’’ He was taken into custody after the verdicts were returned.Attorneys in the case are presenting arguments in court this morning to determine if there were aggravating factors that could lead to an upward departure from sentencing guidelines.In a motion filed earlier with the court, prosecutors said they are seeking a lengthier sentence due to what they alleged was “particular cruelty’’ inflicted by Zumhofe on the victim. They also charge that he had a prior conviction for criminal sexual conduct and was a pattern sex offender.Zumhofe was accused of criminal sexual conduct against a close, female relative during a span of 12 years, beginning when she was 15 years old and living with him in New London.The victim, now 29, had testified.