Man was convicted of jumping BHS student who was jogging
The man convicted of attacking a Burlington High School student while she was jogging off campus nearly a year ago, was sentenced to seven years in prison last week in Racine County Circuit Court.
Judge Allan Torhorst sentenced Bradley J. Pratt, 34, to the prison term plus five years of extended supervision during a hearing on Friday, according to court records. The term exceeded the state’s recommendation, which was for four years prison and four years extended supervision.
Pratt, who was linked to the crime by DNA evidence collected after the attack, pleaded guilty on Jan. 17 to armed robbery, a Class C felony. An additional charge of child abuse-intentionally causing harm was dismissed as part of the plea agreement, but read into the court record.
Torhorst also ordered Pratt, a former Burlington resident, to not have contact with the victim or her family, seek assessment and treatment for alcohol and drug use, obtain and maintain full-time employment upon his release and pay restitution.
“We are grateful that Mr. Pratt will be in prison for several years, and hope that he obtains all necessary rehabilitation to enable him to become a law abiding citizen,” the victim’s parents said in a written statement submitted at the request of the Standard Press.
The victim, who was a 17-year-old senior at BHS at the time of the attack March 16, was jogging on a recreational trail when Pratt jumped her as she approached a footbridge near Bushnell Park.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Pratt sprayed the victim with Mace then tackled her and pinned her to the ground. The girl screamed and fought back, eventually getting away and running toward the city’s dog park for help.
She was not seriously injured, but was transported to Aurora Memorial Hospital of Burlington where the DNA evidence was collected.
In interviews with police following his arrest on May 27, Pratt said he was trying to steal the girl’s iPod music player.
City Police Chief Peter Nimmer said at the time there was nothing to lead investigators to believe the attack was for any reason other than robbery.
“It was definitely a crime of opportunity,” he said. “She was not targeted in any way.”
Officials at Burlington High School used the attack as an opportunity to educate students on personal safety.
The victim’s parents commended Det. Rodney Thurin and the Burlington Police Department for tracking down and arresting Pratt.
“Prior to Mr. Pratt’s sentencing hearing, the district attorney expressed a very high regard for the Burlington Police Department’s good work on this case,” they said.
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