JUNEAU — A couple from Oxford, Wis., have been charged with using a fake law firm to mail their imprisoned son items that could not be screened by the Department of Corrections because of lawyer-client privileges.

Harry G. Gabelbauer, Jr., 71, and his wife Carole E Gabelbauer, 69, both face felony charges of being a party to delivering illegal articles to an inmate.

According to a criminal complaint, the couple sent information about witnesses to their son Harry G. Gabelbauer III, 45, at Waupun Correctional that he could use to appeal a 60-year prison term imposed for Washington County convictions on charges of sexual assault and conspiracy to commit homicide.

A fellow inmate tipped-off authorities that Gabelbauer III had solicited the inmate's help in coercing false statements from witnesses. Authorities then monitored the mail of Gabelbauer III and discovered that his parents had mailed information and documents about the witnesses from Gerke Law Offices, a fictitious firm, that otherwise couldn't be read by DOC staff because of lawyer-client laws.

Carole Gabelbauer said in the criminal complaint the couple has spent more than $120,000 in legal fees defending their son and would do anything to get him out of prison.