Committing a sexual assault is a felony in Appleton, Wisconsin. The exact penalties depend on the details of your case. 1st-degree sexual assault convicts can see up to 60 years in prison and permanent registration on the Wisconsin sex offender list. 

If you are facing sexual assault charges in Appleton, call Grieve Law's criminal defense attorneys for a free case consultation. 

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What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault crimes are categorized into four groups: 1st degree, 2nd degree, 3rd degree, and 4th degree. 1st-degree sexual assaults are most harshly penalized while 4th-degree sexual convicts see the least harsh punishments of the group.

1st Degree Sexual Assault

A Class B felony that can result in up to 60 years in prison and a spot on the Wisconsin sex offender list. 1st-degree sexual assaults include:

• Sexual contact or intercourse with another person without their consent and causes pregnancy or great bodily harm
• Nonconsensual sexual contact or intercourse with another person by use or threat of use of a dangerous weapon or any article perceived as dangerous.
• Aided or abetted sexual contact or sexual intercourse with another person without the consent of that person by use or threat of force or violence.
• Sexual contact with a child under the age of 16 by the threat of force or violation

2nd Degree Sexual Assault

A Class C felony resulting in a maximum of 40 years in prison, fines up to $100,000, and registration on the Wisconsin sex offender list. 2nd-degree sexual assaults include:

• Sexual contact by threat of force, violence, or that results in injury, disease, or mental anguish requiring psychiatric care.
• Sexual assault aided by another person, but without violence (compared to 1st degree).
• The sexual assault of a child under 16, but does not include threats or violence/ does not result in injury.

3rd Degree Sexual Assault

A Class G felony; a charge resulting in a maximum of 10 years in prison, fines up to $25,000, and registration on the Wisconsin sex offender list. A 3rd-degree sexual assault includes:

• Sexual intercourse with a person without the consent of that person
• Ejaculation, urinating or defecating on someone

4th Degree Sexual Assault

A Class A misdemeanor punishable up to 9 months in prison, fines up to $10,000, and registration on the Wisconsin sex offender list. 4th-degree sexual assaults include:

• Any non-consensual sexual contact short of intercourse (groping included).

Child Pornography Charges in Appleton

Child pornography possession in Wisconsin comes with maximum penalties of 25 years in prison and $100,000 in fines if you’re 18 years old or older. Convicts under the age of 18 could receive up to 3.5 years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Wisconsin law treats each image or video as a separate charge, which can quickly increase prison time.

You can only be convicted if prosecutors prove you knowingly possessed material showing minors in explicit conduct. Age, intent, and how the content was found all matter. Grieve Law attorneys review every detail to find constitutional issues and build your defense.

A conviction stays on your record for life. Early legal action is critical. Grieve Law’s Appleton team offers free consultations to help you protect your future.

Statutory Rape Charges in Appleton

Statutory rape in Wisconsin involves sexual contact with someone under the age of consent, which is 18. Even if the younger person agreed, the law may still consider it a crime. Wisconsin’s Romeo and Juliet exception applies when both individuals are minors, but not when one person is legally an adult.

Penalties vary by age and circumstance:

• First-degree sexual assault of a child: Class A felony, life in prison if the child is 13 or younger and injury occurred
• Second-degree: Class C felony, up to 40 years and $100,000
• Third-degree: Class G felony, up to 10 years and $25,000
• Underage sexual activity: Class A misdemeanor, up to 9 months and $10,000

Statutory rape convictions often include mandatory registration on the sex offender list. This charge can follow you for life unless dismissed or significantly reduced.

False accusations do happen, sometimes rooted in jealousy or misinterpretation. Grieve Law investigates all aspects of statutory rape cases, aiming to reduce or drop charges whenever possible. A free consultation with our Appleton defense team is the first step toward protecting your record and future.

I’m Innocent: Sexual Assault in Appleton

Many sexual assault allegations come down to the understanding of consent and “no means no”. False accusations of sexual assault are unfortunately common due to misunderstanding or misintention. Sex crimes are often looked at differently from most crimes. They follow the “guilty until proven innocent” mindset over “innocent until proven guilty”.

The highly educated attorneys at Grieve Law will help prove your innocence and, in some cases, get your charges dropped. Sexual assault charges are commonly complex, and difficult to prove on both sides of the charge. We will go down every path necessary to uncover the most valuable facts to help prove your 100% innocence/ prove a fraction of the allegations are exaggerated or untrue. Attorneys at Grieve Law have built a track record of getting charges dropped or reduced, including domestic violence, sexual assualt, drug charges and 1st offense DUI charges. 

Contact the sexual assault defense attorney at Grieve Law for a FREE phone consultation.