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 Annotation
That the intended victim was actually an adult was not a bar to bringing the charge of attempted 2nd degree sexual assault of a child. The fictitiousness of the victim is an extraneous factor beyond the defendant's control within the meaning of the attempt statute. State v. Grimm, 2002 WI App 242,
258 Wis. 2d 166,
653 N.W.2d 284,
01-0138.
948.02 Annotation
Section 939.22 (19) includes female and male breasts as each is "the breast of a human being." The touching of a boy's breast constitutes "sexual contact" under sub. (2). State v. Forster, 2003 WI App 29,
260 Wis. 2d 149,
659 N.W.2d 144,
02-0602.
948.02 Annotation
Sub. (2), in conjunction with ss. 939.23 and 939.43 (2), precludes a defense predicated on a child's intentional age misrepresentation. The statutes do not violate an accused's rights under the 14th amendment to the U. S. Constitution. State v. Jadowski 2004 WI 68, ___ Wis. 2d ___, ___ N.W.2d ___,
03-1493.
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:
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).
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.
948.025 Annotation
Convicting the defendant on 3 counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child and one count of repeated acts of sexual assault of a child when all 4 charges involved the same child and the same time period violated sub. (3) . A court may reverse the conviction on the repeated acts charge under sub. (1) rather than the convictions for specific acts of sexual assault under s. 948.02 (1) when the proscription against multiple charges in sub. (3) is violated even if the repeated acts charge was filed prior to the charges for the specific actions. State v. Cooper, 2003 WI App 227,
267 Wis. 2d 886,
672 N.W.2d 118,
02-2247.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
948.055 History
History: 1987 a. 334;
1989 a. 359;
1993 a. 218 ss.
6,
7; Stats. 1993 s. 948.055;
1995 a. 67;
2001 a. 109.
948.06
948.06
Incest with a child. Whoever does any of the following is guilty of a Class C felony:
948.06(1)
(1) Marries or has sexual intercourse or sexual contact with a child he or she knows is related, either by blood or adoption, and the child is related in a degree of kinship closer than 2nd cousin; or
948.06(2)
(2) Is a person responsible for the child's welfare and:
948.06(2)(a)
(a) Has knowledge that another person related to the child by blood or adoption in a degree of kinship closer than 2nd cousin has had or intends to have sexual intercourse or sexual contact with the child;
948.06(2)(b)
(b) Is physically and emotionally capable of taking action that will prevent the intercourse or contact from occurring or being repeated;
948.06(2)(d)
(d) The failure to act exposes the child to an unreasonable risk that intercourse or contact may occur between the child and the other person or facilitates the intercourse or contact that does occur between the child and the other person.
948.07
948.07
Child enticement. Whoever, with intent to commit any of the following acts, causes or attempts to cause any child who has not attained the age of 18 years to go into any vehicle, building, room or secluded place is guilty of a Class D felony:
948.07(1)
(1) Having sexual contact or sexual intercourse with the child in violation of
s. 948.02 or
948.095.
948.07(2)
(2) Causing the child to engage in prostitution.
948.07(3)
(3) Exposing a sex organ to the child or causing the child to expose a sex organ in violation of
s. 948.10.
948.07(4)
(4) Recording the child engaging in sexually explicit conduct.
948.07(5)
(5) Causing bodily or mental harm to the child.
948.07(6)
(6) Giving or selling to the child a controlled substance or controlled substance analog in violation of
ch. 961.
948.07 Annotation
The penalty scheme of sub. (3) is not unconstitutionally irrational. That the statute, unlike sub. (1), did not distinguish between victims 16 years old or older and other children victims is a matter for the legislature. State v. Hanson,
182 Wis. 2d 481,
513 N.W.2d 700 (Ct. App. 1994).
948.07 Annotation
This section includes the attempted crime, as well as the completed crime, and cannot be combined with the general attempt statute. State v. DeRango,
229 Wis. 2d 1,
599 N.W.2d 27 (Ct. App. 1999).
948.07 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.
948.07 Annotation
This section creates one crime with multiple modes of commission. The alternate modes of commission are not so dissimilar as to implicate fundamental fairness. As such, a defendant is not entitled to a unanimity instruction. State v. DeRango, 2000 WI 89,
236 Wis. 2d 721,
613 N.W.2d 833.
948.07 Annotation
One alternate mode of commission of the crime under this section is attempt to cause a child to to go into a vehicle, building, room, or secluded place. The principles of attempt in s. 939.32 apply. That the intended victims were fictitious constituted an extraneous fact beyond the defendant's control that prevented successful enticement while not excusing the attempt to entice. State v. Koenck, 2001 WI App 93,
242 Wis. 2d 693,
626 N.W.2d 359.
948.07 Annotation
Attempted child enticement may be charged when the intervening extraneous factor that makes the offense an attempted rather than completed crime is that unbeknownst to the defendant, the "victim" is an adult government agent posing as a child. The 1st amendment is not implicated by the application of the child enticement statute to child enticements initiated over the internet as the statute regulates conduct, not speech. State v. Robins, 2002 WI 65,
253 Wis. 2d 298,
647 N.W.2d 287.
948.07 Annotation
Acts alleged in furtherance of the criminal objective, such as attempts to have a child get into a vehicle or go into a hotel room or a secluded place are not required to prove attempted child enticement. Going to meet the child at a planned time and place is a sufficient, unequivocal act in furtherance of the criminal objective when earlier conversations provide reasonable inferences of that criminal objective. State v. Grimm, 2002 WI App 242,
258 Wis. 2d 166,
653 N.W.2d 284,
01-0138.
948.07 Annotation
While an attempt cannot lie to an offense that does not carry the element of specific intent and the statutory definition of sexual intercourse does not formally include an intent element, the act of sexual intercourse is necessarily an intentional act. As such, the crime of attempted sexual assault of a child by means of sexual intercourse is a crime. State v. Brienzo, 2003 WI App 203,
267 Wis. 2d 349,
671 N.W.2d 700,
01-1362.
948.07 Annotation
Like the child enticement statute in Robins, the child sexual assault statute regulates conduct, not speech. An attempt to have sexual contact or sexual intercourse with a child initiated or carried out in part by means of language does not make an attempted child sexual assault charge susceptible of 1st amendment scrutiny. State v. Brienzo, 2003 WI App 203,
267 Wis. 2d 349,
671 N.W.2d 700.
948.07 Annotation
This section requires only that the defendant cause the child to go into any vehicle, building, room, or secluded place with the intent to engage in illicit conduct, but not that the child necessarily be first separated from the public. State v. Provo, 2004 WI App 97, ___ Wis. 2d ___,
651 N.W.2d 272,
03-1710.
948.075
948.075
Use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. 948.075(1)(1) Whoever uses a computerized communication system to communicate with an individual who the actor believes or has reason to believe has not attained the age of 16 years with intent to have sexual contact or sexual intercourse with the individual in violation of
s. 948.02 (1) or
(2) is guilty of a Class D felony.
948.075(2)
(2) This section does not apply if, at the time of the communication, the actor reasonably believed that the age of the person to whom the communication was sent was no more than 24 months less than the age of the actor.
948.075(3)
(3) Proof that the actor did an act, other than use a computerized communication system to communicate with the individual, to effect the actor's intent under
sub. (1) shall be necessary to prove that intent.
