Joseph G. Deegan, 26, Walworth, is charged with second-degree sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl police say he met at the Racine County Fair in July 2014, a month after his release from prison for dealing drugs.
According to the criminal complaint filed Nov. 26 in Racine Circuit Court:
A 14-year-old girl told investigators that while at the fair she and two 18-year-old friends met Deegan, who was bragging about just getting out of prison, and they went with him to one of the friend’s Union Grove apartment, according to the complaint.
The 14-year-old said Deegan gave them all some Jager (an herbal liqueur) to drink and she told Deegan she was 14 years old, but he just laughed, according to the complaint.
The 14-year-old said Deegan came into the bedroom where she was laying down, closing the door behind him, according to the complaint.
The 14-year-old said Deegan touched her breasts over her clothing and digitally penetrated her vagina, despite her verbal protests and attempts to pull away and make him stop, according to the complaint.
The 14-year-old said Deegan released her when the older girl suddenly entered the bedroom.
The older girl, when interviewed, said she and the 14-year-old met Deegan at the fair, and he was paying a lot of attention to the younger girl while at the apartment.
The older girl said she told Deegan that her friend was only 14 years old so that he would leave the younger girl alone.
The older girl said later the 14-year-old was crying and described how Deegan had assaulted her, according to the complaint.
Deegan said he met the older girl at the fair, where she was with a large group of friends, according to the complaint.
Deegan told investigators he went back to the older girl’s apartment after the fair ended and that no other girls were present at the apartment, according to the complaint.
The complaint says Deegan denied knowing the 14-year-old.
The 14-year-old located two pictures posted to the older girl’s Facebook page from the night of the alleged assault, according to the complaint, and one of the pictures shows Deegan with both girls
Deegan is charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child under age 16.
He made an initial appearance in Racine Circuit Court Dec. 10, when probable cause was found that he committed the crime with which he is charged.
A $25,000 cash bond was set, with conditions that he have no contact with the 14-year-old girl or any minor.
A preliminary hearing was held Dec. 17, which was adjourned to give Deegan time to find a state public defender attorney. He was next scheduled for a Dec. 30 status conference. Deegan remains an inmate of the Racine County Jail, with a “hold” placed on his release by the state Department of Corrections.
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