As in most communities, a defendant that has been convicted of a sex offense in Milwaukee will likely endure lifelong challenges. Some defendants may have their private information displayed on Wisconsin’s Sex Offender Registry. Employers, co-workers and neighbors have access to this information; the defendant may face severe public scrutiny and find it difficult to find employment. Three men may experience these hardships after being charged with child sexual assault.
A Wisconsin man and two men from West Virginia face child sexual assault charges. The three men were arrested in August. The man from Wisconsin was charged with two counts of first degree sexual assault of a child. The other men were each charged with third degree sexual assault.
In Wisconsin, if a person has been convicted of first degree sexual assault of a child, the person is required to register as a sex offender. Some defendants convicted of certain sex offenses are required to register if they live, work or receive education in Wisconsin. However, not all defendants convicted of a sex crime must register. Factors that require defendants to register include a requirement to register in another jurisdiction and a conviction in another state of a charge that is similar to a charge that is a registered offense in Wisconsin.
While Wisconsin, like many states, have severe penalties for sex crimes such as child sexual assault, a defendant may have several options for a meaningful criminal defense. A person charged with child sexual assault should be aware of their rights and be presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Source: WVNSTV, “Three Men Arrested for Alleged Sex Crimes Against Children” Douglas Fritz, Aug. 30, 2012