Assistant DA: Victim happy with man’s sentence for rape
Photo 
James K. Ross
ELKHORN — A Lake Geneva man convicted of violently raping a woman in October was sentenced March 17 to one year’s probation, but that’s after he served 4½ months in jail while he awaited his sentence, said Assistant District Attorney Joshua Grube.
“I took into consideration the fact that he was sitting in jail—straight time—that long,” he said.
The 33-year-old woman told police James K. Ross, 52, of 309 Cook St., slammed her head into a closet door and whipped her head with a belt before raping her, according to a criminal complaint. The woman said she tried to leave four times when she thought Ross was asleep, but he would wake up, grab her hair and pull her back, according to the complaint.
The original charges in November were second-degree sexual assault, false imprisonment and misdemeanor battery. But they were reduced March 14 to fourth-degree sexual assault misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct.
Grube said the victim was “very much on board” with Ross’ sentence, which includes no contact with her, her mother or their residence; $49,000 in restitution to the victim and counseling.
“I wanted to accomplish certain things with the sentencing,” Grube said. “He was convicted of three crimes. He was placed on probation … The victim is very happy. We got a sure resolution.”
Grube said the victim’s wishes as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the state’s case are considered in a sentencing such as this one.
“There were issues with the case that were great enough that a plea agreement was the most appropriate way to go,” he said.
Ross faced up to nine months in jail and $10,000 in fines for the fourth-degree sexual assault charge; up to nine months in jail and $10,000 in fines for the misdemeanor battery charge; and up to 90 days and $1,000 in fines for the disorderly conduct charge.
The previous charge of second-degree sexual assault carried up to 40 years in jail and $100,000 in fines, and the previous charge of false imprisonment carried up to six years in jail and $10,000 in fines.
Apr 4, 2008 at 10:50 p.m.
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now the Walwort county da would never make it.An thats called justice what a joke what a insult.I would not want mr. Grube to prosecute any sex ofenders in this county
Mar 29, 2008 at 2:59 p.m.
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grube and carlson are letting this guy off with probation but sending guys with pot charges to prison wtf is up with that. if your a rapist or child molester walworth county wi is the place for you to be. but not if your a pothead with no violence in your crime they will settle for nothing less than prison they are wasting our money and destroying families by sending non violent people away and letting the violent get probation we need to vote these people out of office wisconsin needs to wake up this is sickening way to go walworth co you people outta be ashamed of yourselfs for staying silent to this kind of madness
Mar 25, 2008 at 8:14 p.m.
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if i read this right the victim is very happy with this resolution. what an idiot, she will be back with him in a month, maybe this is not what she said it was to begin with. because no victim in their right mind would have settled for this agreement. so, now why dont you print the real story of what really happened, because this is truly a slap in the face to women everywhere who have actually been sexually assaulted.
Mar 25, 2008 at 6:13 p.m.
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Honestly for what he did I think he deserves to pay more than 40 thousand dollars and probation. What's going to stop him from hurting another innocent woman? Probation, fines, and maybe some counseling isn't going to change what he did or what he could do in the future. Why don't we start putting people like him in jail instead of the ones who commit petty crimes.
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