Lawmakers look to toughen sexual animal abuse penalties
by Fox 11 News
MADISON (WLUK) -- There may soon be tougher penalties when it comes to sexual abuse of animals.
"It's distorted, and depraved, it's stomach turning behavior," explained State Rep. Andre Jacque (R- De Pere).
Jacque is introducing the bill, "Effectively, address the crime of sexual contact with an animal, by increasing the penalty to a felony."
The legislation would make the first offense a felony, rather than a misdemeanor. It would also increase the penalties for repeat offenders.
The Assembly's "Criminal Justice and Public Safety" committee held a public hearing Thursday.
Some of those who spoke, shared their experiences with Sterling Rachwal, who has convictions stemming back decades.
"I was actively investigating this individual, and he still had the compulsion to go out and assault other horses," said Brown County Sheriff's Sgt. Philip Nelson.
"As a single young woman, in the 90's, my fear for my horse's safety led me to sleep in my barn with a gun," explained a horse owner from De Pere.
But at least one state lawmaker, State Rep. Frederick Kessler (D- Milwaukee) questions whether the law needs to be changed, "My problem is there only appears to be one person, who is really a danger, is there other people?"
Brown County Asst. District Attorney, Dana Johnson, was a prosecutor in the most recent case against Rachwal.
He shared his frustration with the current law, "I felt kind of hand cuffed, I do think we had a very good judge, I think our judge felt the same case of there's only so much we can do."
What's next for the bill will be in the hands of the committee.
The committee is expected to meet again next month, but it's uncertain whether any vote will be taken.