not guilty
sexual assault trials

"Sexual assault charges are one of the easiest accusations to make in Wisconsin, and the resulting case is one of the most difficult to win," commented Attorney Chris Van Wagner during a training seminar he instructed for the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Notably, Attorney Van Wagner had not lost a sexual assault jury trial in more than ten years when he was asked to teach other criminal defense lawyers how to defend these very difficult cases. An acquittal is a "not guilty" verdict; it is the closest statement possible from the court system to declaring a person innocent of the accusations made by the prosecution.

not guilty: Second Degree Sexual Assault
Repeated Acts of Sexual Assault Of Same Child

Wausau, Wisconsin | Marathon County WI

Attorney Chris Van Wagner won an outright acquittal on multiple sexual assault charges falsely alleged against his Colby, Wisconsin client. A Marathon County District Attorney brought charges against the Colby man in 2007. The Marathon County Circuit Court bound the Colby man over for trial, and the trial was held in 2009 after endless motions filed by Attorney Van Wagner to protect his client's rights. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours, and returned a not guilty verdict to a very elated young man that can now get on with his life.

Not guilty: Sexual Assault, Multiple Counts
Repeated Acts of Sexual Assault of Same Child

Prairie du chien, Wisconsin | crawford county WI

Attorney Chris Van Wagner won an acquittal (not guilty verdict) for his Prairie du Client client who had been falsely accused of sexual assault of a child, repeated acts. The sexual assaults were alleged to have been conducted upon a grandchild. The Crawford County Circuit Court five-day trial was held in the grandfather's hometown community. Despite the fact that most people in that courtroom knew one another since grade school and emotions ran high, Attorney Van Wagner refocused the jury on the facts of the case. The jury returned a not guilty verdict.

dismissed: nine felony counts of sexual assault of a child

portage wisconsin | Columbia county wi

Attorney Chris Van Wagner proved to the satisfaction of the court that his client was a victim, not an offender in a case involving teenage boys attending the school where his client worked. A third party forced his client to have sexual intercourse with him, and the two teenage boys while he watched. The Columbia County Circuit Court dismissed the charges against Attorney Van Wagner's client.

The special prosecutor said that he would file sexual assault charges again when the teens turned 18. Attorney Chris Van Wagner retorted, "We'll be back to prove her innocence then."

Not Guilty: Sexual Assault of an Unconscious Victim

madison wisconsin | dane county wi

Attorney Tracey Wood won an outright acquittal for her client who had been falsely accused of sexually assaulting a person while that person was unconscious. The jury trial was held in Madison, Wisconsin in the Dane County Circuit Court. The jury deliberated upon the evidence to determine if it substantiated the sexual assault charge against Attorney Wood's client, and brought back a not guilty verdict.

Not Guilty: Second Degree Sexual Assault, two counts Repeated Acts of Sexual Assault, Same Child

Madison Wisconsin | Dane County WI

A Madison, Wisconsin jury returned a not guilty verdict in the jury trial of a Mount Horeb, Wisconsin man who had been falsely accused of sexually assaulting his step-daughter on repeated occasions. Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner defended the Mount Horeb man. Chris said, "My client is relieved to have been exonerated by the not guilty verdict."

Probation Instead of 10 Years Imprisonment for Failure to Prevent Sexual Assault of Child

fond du lac wisconsin | fond du lac county wi

Attorney Tracey Wood's client, a former Palmyra, Wisconsin childcare provider, received probation instead of the 10-year prison sentence sought by the prosecuting attorney. Attorney Wood's client had been charged with sexual assault and failing to prevent a sexual assault upon a child, repeated acts, for not stopping her husband from sexually assault the children she cared for at her daycare.

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