(262) 786-7100
First-degree sexual assault is punishable by up to 60 years in prison as a class B felony and lifetime registration on the sex offender registry. If the victim of a first-degree sexual assault is under the age of 13 and suffers great bodily harm, penalties are now up to life in prison.
If you are facing sexual assault charges in Racine or Kenosha, call Grieve Law's criminal defense attorneys for a free case consultation.
Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Believe in Your Right to a Powerful Defense
Grieve Law LLC understands that every person accused of a crime has a right to a strong, strategic defense. Our sexual assault defense attorneys understand that sexual assault and other sex crimes cover a wide range of charges. You may be asking how am I being charged with a sex crime and possibly end up on the sex offender registry list When your case requires the very best criminal defense lawyers Racine & Kenosha have to offer, turn to Grieve Law.
Our team of attorneys offers free consultations, reasonable rates and flexible payment plans. Grieve Law Racine-Kenosha will make sure you get the best possible defense for your case.
Sexual Assault: Differences in Degree
First-Degree Sexual Assault
Charges for sexual assault are separated by degree in Wisconsin. First-degree sexual assault happens in one of five different situations:
- Sexual contact or intercourse without consent that results in pregnancy or great bodily harm.
- Sexual contact or intercourse without consent and with the use of a dangerous weapon or threat of use of a dangerous weapon.
- Sexual contact or intercourse without consent aided by another person by use or threat of force or violence.
- Sexual contact or intercourse with someone under 13 years old.
- Sexual contact or intercourse with someone under 16 years old by use or threat of force or violence.
Penalties: First-degree sexual assault is a class B felony and is punishable by up to 60 years in prison and lifetime registration on the sex offender registry. If the victim of a first-degree sexual assault is under the age of 13 and suffers great bodily harm, penalties are now up tp life in prison.
Second-Degree Sexual Assault
Sexual contact or intercourse by use or threat of force or violence and sexual contact or intercourse that results in disease, injury, or mental anguish requiring psychiatric care are second-degree sexual assaults. Additionally, if the victim is intoxicated, unconscious, mentally impaired, or is a patient or inmate where the actor is their caregiver or prison guard, a second-degree sexual assault can be charged. Finally, sexual contact or intercourse without force, threat of force, violence, or injury when the victim is under 16 is also a second-degree sexual assault.
Penalties: Second-degree sexual assault is a class C felony. Second-degree sexual assault is punishable by up to 40 years in prison and a fine of up to $100,000, or both. Additionally, a second-degree sexual assault conviction can result in registration on the sex offender registry for no less than 15 years.
Third-Degree Sexual Assault
Sexual intercourse without consent or sexual contact without consent that is urinating, ejaculating, or defecating on someone for the purpose of degrading them is third-degree sexual assault.
Penalties: Third-degree sexual assault is a class G felony. Third-degree sexual assault is punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $25,000. If convicted, a person may also be required to register as a sex offender.
Fourth-Degree Sexual Assault
Any sexual contact without consent is a fourth-degree sexual assault, including sexual contact over clothing. If a person grabs someone sexually at a bar, that person can be charged with fourth-degree sexual assault.
Penalties: Fourth-degree sexual assault is a class A misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 9 months in jail and a fine of up to $10,000.
Racine & Kenosha County Sex Crime Statistics
City |
Rape |
Sodomy/Oral
|
Sexual Assault
|
Fondling |
Incest |
Statutory
|
All Sex
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burlington | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Caledonia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Mount Pleasant | 2 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 14 |
| Racine Co | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 14 |
| Racine | 29 | 4 | 0 | 60 | 0 | 7 | 100 |
| Sturtevant | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Waterford | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Wind Point | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 36 | 6 | 3 | 77 | 0 | 16 | 138 |
City |
Rape |
Sodomy/Oral
|
Sexual Assault
|
Fondling |
Incest |
Statutory
|
All Sex
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kenosha Co | 19 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 31 |
| Kenosha | 59 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 2 | 9 | 90 |
| Pleasant Prairie | 6 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Twin Lakes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| UW-Parkside | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Total | 87 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 5 | 11 | 133 |
CONTACT OUR RACINE-KENOSHA SEXUAL ASSAULT DEFENSE LAWYERS TO SET UP YOUR FREE LEGAL CONSULTATION FOR WISCONSIN SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES.
How long does a sexual assault stay on your record?
If you are convicted of a sexual assault it will remain on your record permanently. Beyond jail time and the financial penalties, you can also be required to register as a sex offender for life. In Wisconsin, all criminal convictions are maintained by CCAP (Wisconsin’s Circuit Court Access Program) making your conviction available for public view. A sexual assault conviction will have a life-long impact on your ability to get a job, find housing, and obtain or maintain a professional license.
How to beat a sexual assault charge
Frequently a sexual assault charge comes down to what is called a “he said/she” said case, where the only evidence is the victim’s word against the person charged. Most often sexual assault cases come down to whether there was consent for whatever took place, with the victim saying there was no consent and the other person arguing that anything that happened was consensual. When the evidence in a case is the victim's word against yours, hiring the right lawyer to fight against your charges and put you in the best position to avoid a wrongful conviction is crucial. Our team of award-winning Racine and Kenosha sexual assault lawyers will work with you to make sure that you are not left with a ruined reputation and a lifetime of embarrassment from a false charge.
