Sauk County jury finds North Freedom man guilty of First-Degree Child Sexual Assault

A Sauk County jury has found Robert Porter, 59 of North Freedom, guilty of First-Degree Child Sexual Assault following a four-day trial. The verdict was delivered January 16th before Circuit Court Judge Wendy Klicko. Porter was convicted of First-Degree Child Sexual Assault – Sexual Contact with a Child under Age 13, a Class B Felony. Under Wisconsin law, a conviction for this offense carries a maximum sentence of up to 60 years in the Wisconsin Prison System.

The evidence presented at trial established that Porter sexually assaulted an 8-year-old female while in a position of trust. The State’s case relied on the testimony of the child victim and another juvenile witness who was present at the time. The jury also heard from Robyn Klaila of the Safe Harbor Child Advocacy Center, who provided expert testimony regarding the complex nature of how children disclose sexual assault to trusted adults.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Emily Eklund and Olivia Brinkmeier and was investigated by the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office. ADA Eklund noted that the case highlights how offenders frequently exploit positions of authority to groom and silence their victims. 

A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for April 13. Porter was remanded to custody pending that hearing.

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