Sex Crimes Overview

Sexual Assault Attorneys
Sex Crimes Lawyers

If you have been charged with a sex crime, it is crucial that you contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. Sex crimes are by far the most vigorously prosecuted and harshly punished crimes in Wisconsin. A conviction can result in severe penalties, including many years in prison, large fines, and the added humiliation of having to register as a sex offender.

Attorney Sydne French represents clients charged with all types of sex crimes, from date rape to child molestation, and violent sex crimes (all forms and classes of sexual assault) to consensual sexual acts such as statutory rape.  Attorney French's background in clinical and research psychology (in child, adult, & forensic populations) makes her particularly skilled at detecting false allegations commonly associated with sexual assault crimes.  Whether the motivation underlying the false accusation is to gain advantage in divorce and custody proceedings, or simply due to vindictiveness, Attorney French has the background and experience to expose the true nature of these allegations. 

Being charged with a sex crime can be a humiliating experience. We want you to know that we are not here to judge you.  When you become a client of ours, we will fight to defend you, and we will take measures right away to protect your right—no matter what the charges.  Contact us today to learn how we will defend you against sex crime charges including (but not limited to):

	Sexual Assault: First, Second, Third, and Fourth Degrees
	Sexual Assault of a Child, Sex with a Minor
	Child Enticement
	Child Solicitation
	Exposing Genitals or Pubic Area
	Sexual Exploitation of a Child
	Possession of Child Pornography
	Prostitution

We want you to know you are not alone in this. We put our clients' best interests first every time. We want them to feel as though they are our only client, because they deserve the very best. And so do you.

Give us a call or send us an email and we will respond promptly. We have evening and weekend appointments available for your convenience.

WI Sex Offender Registration¹

We've provided the following information in response to the most common questions related to this topic.  Please keep in mind, however, that sex offender registeration is a serious and complicated matter.  Whether any person will be required to register as a sex offender after conviction depends on a great many things.  You should consult with an experienced criminal attorney to understand how the following information will affect your case in particular.

What violations are classified as a sex offense? | Who is required to report? | How long is a person required to report? | What are the exceptions? |

What violations are classified as a sex offense?

Not all offenses qualify as a "sex offense" under Wisconsin Statute Section 301.45.  A sex offense under this section must be either a violation, or the solicitation, conspiracy, or attempt to commit a violation, of any of the following charges:

	940.225(1) First degree sexual assault
	940.225(2) Second degree sexual assault
	940.225(3) Third degree sexual assault
	940.22(2) Sexual exploitation by a therapist
	944.06 Incest
	948.02(1) First degree sexual assault of a child
	948.02(2) Second degree sexual assault of a child
	948.025 Engaging in repeated acts of sexual assault of the same child
	948.05 Sexual exploitation of a child
	948.051 Trafficking a child
	948.055 Causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity
	948.06 Incest with a child
	948.07(1)-(4) Child enticement
	948.075 Use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime
	948.08 Soliciting a child for prostitution
	948.085 Sexual assault of a child placed in substitute case
	948.095 Sexual assault of a child by a school staff person or a person who works or volunteers with children
	948.11(2)(a)(am) Exposing a child to harmful material or harmful descriptions narrations
	948.12 Possession of child pornography
	948.13 Child sex offender working with children
	948.30 Abduction of another’s child
	940.302(2)(a)1.b. Human trafficking if the trafficking is for the purposes of a commercial sex act
	940.30 False imprisonment if the victim was a minor and the person who committed the violation was not the victim’s parent
	940.31 Kidnapping if the victim was a minor and the person who committed the violation was not the victim’s parent

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Who is required to report?

Pursuant to Wis. Stat. §301.45(1g), a person is required to comply with reporting requirements if, by December 25, 1993 he or she meets any of the following qualifications:

	is convicted of a sex offense
	in prison or on supervision for a sex offense or a comparable WI law
	is found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, and is committed civilly under §51.20 or under §971.17 for a sex offense
	is in institutional care or on conditional transfer under §51.35(1) or conditional release under §971.17 for a sex offense or a comparable WI law
	is on supervision in this state from another state under §§304.13(1m), 304.135, or 304.16 for a violation of another state’s law that is comparable to a sex offense
	is a juvenile in this state on or after May 9, 2000, and is on supervision in this state from another state pursuant to §938.988 for a violation of another state’s law that is comparable to a sex offense
	is placed on lifetime supervision based upon his or her status as a serious sex offender under §939.615 on or after June 26, 1998
	is in institutional care or on supervised release under ch. 980 on or after June 2, 1994
	is ordered by the courts to comply with the reporting requirements of §301.45
	was required to register under §301.45(1)(a), 1997 stats., based on a finding that he or she was in need of protection or services and is ordered to continue complying with the requirements of this section by a court acting under 1999 Wisconsin Act 89, section 107(1)(e)
	is, on or after December 1, 2000, registered as a sex offender in another state, or with the FBI, and is a resident, student, or is employed in Wisconsin
	has committed a sex offense in another state, and; on or after December 1, 2000, is a resident, student, or employed in Wisconsin, and; no more than 10 years has passed since the date he or she was released from prison / placed on parole

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How long is a person required to report?

According to Wis. Stat. §301.45(5)(a), a person is required to report under §301.45 for 15 years after the discharge of his or her probation or extended supervision for the sex offense, in most circumstances and for most sex offenses.   In some situations, however, a person is required to report for the rest of his or her life.

The circumstances requiring a lifetime reporting requirement are listed in Wis. Stat. §301.45(am) and (b), including:

	Serious sex offenders as defined in §939.615
	A person who has 2 or more convictions for a sex offense
	First degree sexual assault
	Second degree sexual assault
	First degree sexual assault of a child
	Second degree sexual assault of a child
	Engaging in repeated acts of sexual assault with the same child
	Sexual assault of a child placed in substitute care
	A sexually violent person under ch. 980
	Court ordered compliance until death

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What are the exceptions?

There are exceptions to the mandatory reporting requirement.  One is not required to comply with reporting requirements if ALL of the following apply:

	The individual meets the criteria under 301.45(1g)(a)-(dd)64 based on a violation of one of the following: First degree sexual assault of a child, Second degree sexual assault of a child, Engaging in repeated acts of sexual assault of the same child, Sexual assault of a child placed in substitute care
	The violation did not involve sexual intercourse by use of threat of force or violence or with a victim under the age of 12 years
	At the time of the violation the person had not attained the age of 19 years and was not more than 4 years older or younger than the child
	It is not necessary, in the interests of public protection, to require the person to comply with the reporting requirements

It is important to keep in mind,  however, that although one may not be required to report, a judge may nonetheless order a person to report, under certain circumstances (see below).

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Discretionary Registration

The information provided thus far has addressed the circumstances under which one is mandated to report to the sex offender registry. However, as has been mentioned, there are also situations where a court may, in its discretion, order registration at sentencing. Pursuant to Wisconsin statutes section §973.048(1m), violations of the following may be considered for discretionary registration:

Ch. 940 Crimes against life and bodily security
Ch. 944 Crimes against sexual morality
Ch. 948 Crimes against children
942.08 Invasion of privacy
943.01-.15 Certain crimes against property

A court may require a person to comply with the reporting requirements of §301.45 if a court determines that the conduct underlying one of the crimes listed above was sexually motivated and that it would be in the interest of public protection to have that person register. “Sexually motivated” is defined in §980.01(5) as “one of the purposes for an act is for the actor’s sexual arousal or gratification or for the sexual humiliation of degradation of the victim.” To determine whether registration would be in the interest of public protection, the court may consider any of the following:

The ages of the person and the victim at the time of the violation
The relationship between the person and the victim
Whether the violation resulted in bodily harm to the victim
Whether the victim suffered from any mental illness or mental deficiency
The probability that the person will commit other violations in the future
Any other factor the court determines may be relevant

¹ Derived from the Wisconsin Prosecutor's Sexual Assault Reference Book, published and distributed by the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, Oct. 2009.