948.02(4)
(4) Marriage not a bar to prosecution. A defendant shall not be presumed to be incapable of violating this section because of marriage to the complainant.
948.02(5)
(5) Death of victim. This section applies whether a victim is dead or alive at the time of the sexual contact or sexual intercourse.
948.02 Annotation
Relevant evidence in child sexual assault cases is discussed. In Interest of Michael R.B.
175 Wis. 2d 713,
499 N.W.2d 641 (1993).
948.02 Annotation
Limits relating to expert testimony regarding child sex abuse victims is discussed. State v. Hernandez,
192 Wis. 2d 251,
531 N.W.2d 348 (Ct. App. 1995).
948.02 Annotation
The criminalization, under sub. (2), of consensual sexual relations with a child does not violate the defendant's constitutionally protected privacy rights. State v. Fisher,
211 Wis. 2d 664,
565 N.W.2d 565 (Ct. App. 1997).
948.02 Annotation
Second degree sexual assault under sub. (2) is a lesser included offense of first degree sexual assault under sub. (1). State v. Moua,
215 Wis. 2d 510,
573 N.W.2d 210 (Ct. App. 1997).
948.02 Annotation
For a guilty plea to a sexual assault charge to be knowingly made, a defendant need not be informed of the potential of being required to register as a convicted sex offender under s. 301.45 or that failure to register could result in imprisonment, as the commitment is a collateral, not direct, consequence of the plea. State v. Bollig, 2000 WI 6,
232 Wis. 2d 561,
605 N.W.2d 199.
948.02 Annotation
Expert evidence of sexual immaturity is relevant to a preadolescent's affirmative defense that he or she is not capable of having sexual contact with the purpose of becoming sexually aroused or gratified. State v. Stephen T. 2002 WI App 3,
250 Wis. 2d 26,
643 N.W.2d 151.
948.02 AnnotationThe constitutionality of this statute is upheld. Sweeney v. Smith,
9 F. Supp. 2d 1026 (1998).
948.025
948.025
Engaging in repeated acts of sexual assault of the same child. 948.025(1)(1) Whoever commits 3 or more violations under
s. 948.02 (1) or
(2) within a specified period of time involving the same child is guilty of:
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (1) is shown as affected eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(1) Whoever commits 3 or more violations under s. 948.02 (1) or (2) within a specified period of time involving the same child is guilty of a Class B felony.
948.025(2)(a)(a) If an action under
sub. (1) (a) is tried to a jury, in order to find the defendant guilty the members of the jury must unanimously agree that at least 3 violations of
s. 948.02 (1) occurred within the specified period of time but need not agree on which acts constitute the requisite number.
948.025(2)(b)
(b) If an action under
sub. (1) (b) is tried to a jury, in order to find the defendant guilty the members of the jury must unanimously agree that at least 3 violations of
s. 948.02 (1) or
(2) occurred within the specified period of time but need not agree on which acts constitute the requisite number and need not agree on whether a particular violation was a violation of
s. 948.02 (1) or
(2).
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (2) is shown as affected eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
948.025 Note
(2) If an action under sub. (1) is tried to a jury, in order to find the defendant guilty the members of the jury must unanimously agree that at least 3 violations occurred within the time period applicable under sub. (1) but need not agree on which acts constitute the requisite number.
948.025(2m)
(2m) If a person violates
sub. (1) and the person is responsible for the welfare of the child who is the victim of the violation, the maximum term of imprisonment may be increased by not more than 5 years.
948.025(3)
(3) The state may not charge in the same action a defendant with a violation of this section and with a felony violation involving the same child under
ch. 944 or a violation involving the same child under
s. 948.02,
948.05,
948.06,
948.07,
948.075,
948.08,
948.10,
948.11, or
948.12, unless the other violation occurred outside of the time period applicable under
sub. (1). This subsection does not prohibit a conviction for an included crime under
s. 939.66 when the defendant is charged with a violation of this section.
948.025 Annotation
This section does not violate the right to a unanimous verdict or to due process. State v. Johnson, 2001 WI 52,
243 Wis. 2d 365,
627 N.W. 2d 455.
948.03
948.03
Physical abuse of a child. 948.03(1)
(1)
Definitions. In this section, "recklessly" means conduct which creates a situation of unreasonable risk of harm to and demonstrates a conscious disregard for the safety of the child.
948.03(2)
(2) Intentional causation of bodily harm. 948.03(2)(a)(a) Whoever intentionally causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class E felony.
948.03(2)(b)
(b) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class H felony.
948.03(2)(c)
(c) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child by conduct which creates a high probability of great bodily harm is guilty of a Class F felony.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (2) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(2) Intentional causation of bodily harm. (a) Whoever intentionally causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class C felony.
948.03 Note
(b) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class D felony.
948.03 Note
(c) Whoever intentionally causes bodily harm to a child by conduct which creates a high probability of great bodily harm is guilty of a Class C felony.
948.03(3)
(3) Reckless causation of bodily harm. 948.03(3)(a)(a) Whoever recklessly causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class G felony.
948.03(3)(b)
(b) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class I felony.
948.03(3)(c)
(c) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to a child by conduct which creates a high probability of great bodily harm is guilty of a Class H felony.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (3) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(3) Reckless causation of bodily harm. (a) Whoever recklessly causes great bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class D felony.
948.03 Note
(b) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to a child is guilty of a Class E felony.
948.03 Note
(c) Whoever recklessly causes bodily harm to a child by conduct which creates a high probability of great bodily harm is guilty of a Class D felony.
948.03(4)
(4) Failing to act to prevent bodily harm. 948.03(4)(a)(a) A person responsible for the child's welfare is guilty of a Class F felony if that person has knowledge that another person intends to cause, is causing or has intentionally or recklessly caused great bodily harm to the child and is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the bodily harm from occurring or being repeated, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of great bodily harm by the other person or facilitates the great bodily harm to the child that is caused by the other person.
948.03(4)(b)
(b) A person responsible for the child's welfare is guilty of a Class H felony if that person has knowledge that another person intends to cause, is causing or has intentionally or recklessly caused bodily harm to the child and is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the bodily harm from occurring or being repeated, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of bodily harm by the other person or facilitates the bodily harm to the child that is caused by the other person.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (4) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(4) Failing to act to prevent bodily harm. (a) A person responsible for the child's welfare is guilty of a Class C felony if that person has knowledge that another person intends to cause, is causing or has intentionally or recklessly caused great bodily harm to the child and is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the bodily harm from occurring or being repeated, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of great bodily harm by the other person or facilitates the great bodily harm to the child that is caused by the other person.
948.03 Note
(b) A person responsible for the child's welfare is guilty of a Class D felony if that person has knowledge that another person intends to cause, is causing or has intentionally or recklessly caused bodily harm to the child and is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the bodily harm from occurring or being repeated, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of bodily harm by the other person or facilitates the bodily harm to the child that is caused by the other person.
948.03(5)
(5) Penalty enhancement; abuse by certain persons. If a person violates
sub. (2) or
(3) and the person is responsible for the welfare of the child who is the victim of the violation, the maximum term of imprisonment may be increased by not more than 5 years.
948.03(6)
(6) Treatment through prayer. A person is not guilty of an offense under this section solely because he or she provides a child with treatment by spiritual means through prayer alone for healing in accordance with the religious method of healing permitted under
s. 48.981 (3) (c) 4. or
448.03 (6) in lieu of medical or surgical treatment.
948.03 History
History: 1987 a. 332;
2001 a. 109.
948.03 Annotation
To obtain a conviction for aiding and abetting a violation of sub. (2) or (3), the state must prove conduct that as a matter of objective fact aids another in executing the crime. State v. Rundle,
176 Wis. 2d 985,
500 N.W.2d 916 (Ct. App. 1993).
948.03 Annotation
A live-in boyfriend can be a person responsible for the welfare of a child under sub. (5) if he was used by the child's legal guardian as a caretaker for the child. State v. Sostre,
198 Wis. 2d 409,
542 N.W.2d 774 (1996).
948.04
948.04
Causing mental harm to a child. 948.04(1)
(1) Whoever is exercising temporary or permanent control of a child and causes mental harm to that child by conduct which demonstrates substantial disregard for the mental well-being of the child is guilty of a Class F felony.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (1) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(1) Whoever is exercising temporary or permanent control of a child and causes mental harm to that child by conduct which demonstrates substantial disregard for the mental well-being of the child is guilty of a Class C felony.
948.04(2)
(2) A person responsible for the child's welfare is guilty of a Class F felony if that person has knowledge that another person has caused, is causing or will cause mental harm to that child, is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the harm, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of mental harm by the other person or facilitates the mental harm to the child that is caused by the other person.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (2) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(2) A person responsible for the child's welfare is guilty of a Class C felony if that person has knowledge that another person has caused, is causing or will cause mental harm to that child, is physically and emotionally capable of taking action which will prevent the harm, fails to take that action and the failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk of mental harm by the other person or facilitates the mental harm to the child that is caused by the other person.
948.04 History
History: 1987 a. 332;
2001 a. 109.
948.05
948.05
Sexual exploitation of a child. 948.05(1)
(1) Whoever does any of the following with knowledge of the character and content of the sexually explicit conduct involving the child is guilty of a Class F felony:
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (1) (intro.) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(1) Whoever does any of the following with knowledge of the character and content of the sexually explicit conduct involving the child is guilty of a Class C felony:
948.05(1)(a)
(a) Employs, uses, persuades, induces, entices, or coerces any child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of recording or displaying in any way the conduct.
948.05(1)(b)
(b) Records or displays in any way a child engaged in sexually explicit conduct.
948.05(1m)
(1m) Whoever produces, performs in, profits from, promotes, imports into the state, reproduces, advertises, sells, distributes, or possesses with intent to sell or distribute, any recording of a child engaging in sexually explicit conduct is guilty of a Class F felony if the person knows the character and content of the sexually explicit conduct involving the child and if the person knows or reasonably should know that the child engaging in the sexually explicit conduct has not attained the age of 18 years.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (1m) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(1m) Whoever produces, performs in, profits from, promotes, imports into the state, reproduces, advertises, sells, distributes, or possesses with intent to sell or distribute, any recording of a child engaging in sexually explicit conduct is guilty of a Class C felony if the person knows the character and content of the sexually explicit conduct involving the child and if the person knows or reasonably should know that the child engaging in the sexually explicit conduct has not attained the age of 18 years.
948.05(2)
(2) A person responsible for a child's welfare who knowingly permits, allows or encourages the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for a purpose proscribed in
sub. (1) (a) or
(b) or
(1m) is guilty of a Class F felony.
Effective date note
NOTE: Sub. (2) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(2) A person responsible for a child's welfare who knowingly permits, allows or encourages the child to engage in sexually explicit conduct for a purpose proscribed in sub. (1) (a) or (b) or (1m) is guilty of a Class C felony.
948.05(3)
(3) It is an affirmative defense to prosecution for violation of
sub. (1) (a) or
(b) or
(2) if the defendant had reasonable cause to believe that the child had attained the age of 18 years. A defendant who raises this affirmative defense has the burden of proving this defense by a preponderance of the evidence.
948.05 Annotation
"Import" under sub. (1) (c) means bringing in from an external source and does not require a commercial element or exempt personal use. State v. Bruckner,
151 Wis. 2d 833,
447 N.W.2d 376 (Ct. App. 1989).
948.05 Annotation
The purposes of ss. 948.05, child exploitation, and 948.07, child enticement, are distinct and two distinct crimes are envisioned by the statutes. Charging both for the same act was not multiplicitous. State v. DeRango, 2000 WI 89,
236 Wis. 2d 721,
613 N.W.2d 833.
948.055
948.055
Causing a child to view or listen to sexual activity. 948.055(1)(1) Whoever intentionally causes a child who has not attained 18 years of age to view or listen to sexually explicit conduct may be penalized as provided in
sub. (2) if the viewing or listening is for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying the actor or humiliating or degrading the child.
948.055(2)(a)
(a) A Class F felony if the child has not attained the age of 13 years.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (a) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(a) A Class C felony if the child has not attained the age of 13 years.
948.055(2)(b)
(b) A Class H felony if the child has attained the age of 13 years but has not attained the age of 18 years.
Effective date note
NOTE: Par. (b) is shown as amended eff. 2-1-03 by
2001 Wis. Act 109. Prior to 2-1-03 it reads:
Effective date text
(b) A Class D felony if the child has attained the age of 13 years but has not attained the age of 18 years.
