Just when you thought you’ve heard and seen it all…a Wisconsin man has been charged with waterboarding his girlfriend in order to force a confession about cheating with another man. The 22-year-old is facing six felony charges and 3 misdemeanors.
Domestic abuse is defined as engaging in intentional infliction of physical pain, injury, or illness; sexual assault; or physical acts threatening any of those against a current or former spouse, current or former co-habitant, or co-parent.
Wisconsin doesn’t have a specific law prohibiting domestic violence. Instead, the state uses the same statutes, such as battery, sexual assault, kidnapping, and homicide, to prosecute domestic violence situations.
In this case, the perpetrator is likely looking at a battery charge and false imprisonment charges, which could result in significant fines and incarceration.
Battery is broken into three categories, ranging from the least to most serious:
- Battery - Intentionally causing bodily harm to another without the person’s consent, which is a Class A misdemeanor that can be penalized by up to 9 months confinement and a fine up to $10,000.
- Substantial Battery - Intentionally causing substantial bodily harm to another, which is a Class I felony punishable by up to 3.5 years in prison and up to a $10,000 fine.
- Aggravated Battery - Causing great bodily harm to another, either with the intent to cause bodily harm (Class H felony) or the intent to cause great bodily harm (Class E felony). A Class H felony can be punished by at most 6 years in prison and a fine of $10,000 and a Class E felony can be punished by at most 15 years in prison and a fine of $50,000 fine.
If you or a family member has been charged with Wisconsin assault or battery, contact the criminal defense lawyers of Andrew C. Ladd LLC for help. Our experienced lawyers have more than 50 years of combined legal experience. We provide our clients with strategic, aggressive criminal defense against a range of criminal charges.
Source: Wisconsin Journal Sentinal, “Man Accused of Waterboarding Girlfriend”, accessed March 1, 2016″
