Hearing set in serial-rape case

By MIKE DUPRE'   Friday, June 20, 2008
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Photo

Michael R. Huber

— The prosecution still must provide some reports and documents demanded by the defense in Janesville's so-called serial-rape case.

Judge James Daley on Thursday set a due date of Aug. 15 for assistant district attorney Mary Bricco to get the paperwork to Michael R. Huber's defense attorney.

Huber, 32, of 2133 Ontario Drive, Janesville, is charged with six counts of first-degree sexual assault involving a weapon and one count of second-degree sexual assault of a child in incidents from 1998 and 2003.

He remains in custody at the Rock County Jail in lieu of $160,000 cash bond.

Huber's attorney, Bill Hayes of Beloit, has demanded in a discovery motion the complete case file developed by the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory, not just the DNA profile that authorities say link Huber to the crimes.

A fingerprint match from the 1998 crime scene initially led police to Huber, a convicted felon who pleaded guilty to one of several burglaries in Jackson County in 1995.

He then was sentenced to five years of intensive supervision.

Hayes also demanded to see the FBI's complete fingerprint analysis and the resume of the analyst who did it.

Bricco told the judge she thought the agencies could provide the documents by Aug. 15.

Huber is implicated in six home invasions dating to 1998.

But the criminal complaint against him cites only the two cases in which police and prosecutors say they have DNA evidence: a home invasion and rape in 1998 and similar crimes in 2003.

The 1998 assault led to three charges of first-degree sexual assault against one woman, who was 27 at the time.

The 2003 home invasion and rape led to one count of sexual assault of child younger than 16 and three counts of first-degree sexual assault. The victim in the alleged crimes was 13 at the time.

The criminal complaint alleges four separate sexual contacts in the 2003 incident.

In both of those incidents, Huber threatened that he had a gun, the complaint charges.

The serial-rape case involved six home invasions, not all of which included a sexual assault, but detectives think one man committed all the crimes because of a distinct method of operation.

But DNA evidence was not collected in assaults in 1999, 2000 and 2001, so those crimes fall outside the state's statute of limitations. Collection of DNA evidence essentially eliminates the statute of limitations in sexual-assault cases.

A 2005 home invasion, which did not include a sexual assault, falls within the statute of limitations. No charges have been filed in that incident.

Huber is due to appear back in court Thursday, Sept. 25, when the status of his case will again be reviewed.







reader COMMENTS (13)
whatcomesaround
Aug 25, 2008 at 5:14 p.m.
Suggest removal

Guess what taxpayer's?
The state is paying for Huber's defense...
It seems Huber is short on cash...
That's right, your taxes, hard at work.

Oh and soside4life...
You really have no idea what you are talking about. It's ok though..I try not to judge people who are ignorant!
I know you don't know the facts in the case.

IBTF
Jun 23, 2008 at 10:06 a.m.
Suggest removal

Rape is a very serious crime and the criminal should be punished severly. Murder is even worse but they tend to get off with a lighter sentence than a rapist. WHY? And why does the DA and the Media make a sexual assault sound even worse than it all ready is? I was talking to someone this weekend that read this article and thought that Mr. Huber was accused of assaulting 6 different 13 year olds, or assaulted the same one 6 times, when in fact when someone is sexually assaulted, each time that the person touches the victims private areas such as the breasts, rear, or vagina, even without actually having sex with them, each time is considered an assault. Therefore if Mr. Huber touched 6 different parts of a victims body, it would be 6 sexual assaults. Just thought you should know this. He may be an animal but not quit as bad as they make it sound. And if the man they were searching for that had raped a 6 year old, only got 6 years, will Huber, if found guilty; only get 10. Or will Judge Daley and the DA decide that they are now going to make an example of him to make up for all their other mistakes. I'm not sure what is fair, and I can't imagine what the assault victims have gone through, but at least they are still alive. I had a friend killed and the murderer only got 10 years with a chance of parole in 7. How fair is that? Mr. Huber does have a wife and child that he may never see again, if he is found guilty and Judge Daley and the DA do their thing. And I know if it were my daughter I'd want him hung from the nearest tree, but there does need to be some sort of balance set for punishments. Look at what O. J. got away with, or Coby Bryants sexual assault. I guess money can buy your way out of anything! This coming from, what a lot of people consider; a bleeding heart liberal, but I'll never vote for Daley again and you shouldn't either. Enough said!

anonomouse
Jun 21, 2008 at 12:39 p.m.
Suggest removal

Just because you don't believe he committed all of the crimes doesn't mean he isn't guilty. One of his victims was still a child. This guy needs to be off the streets. He ran free too long. Anyone who thinks he should get off scott free is just as sick as he is.

soside4life
Jun 21, 2008 at 1:26 a.m.
Suggest removal

I really don't think he committed ALL (6) "Home Invasions" here!..(Sorry!) Maybe the 2 w/ DNA, BUT...read <between> the fine print re: those 2 cases &....JUST MY "THOUGHTS" IS ALL! :)

anonomouse
Jun 20, 2008 at 7:14 p.m.
Suggest removal

Wonder how he's gonna feel when he gets raped in the joint. Justice will be served then.

JohnDoe
Jun 20, 2008 at 4:42 p.m.
Suggest removal

Some must think DNA re-wrote our justice system;
Does Not Apply.

anonomouse
Jun 20, 2008 at 4:28 p.m.
Suggest removal

I can't wait for this sleezeball to be locked up tight.

leostime36
Jun 20, 2008 at 12:21 p.m.
Suggest removal

Sarahb-pretty sure if they didn't have his DNA he wouldn't be sitting in jail....sleazeball is being too nice.

SarahB
Jun 20, 2008 at 12:13 p.m.
Suggest removal

Remember, innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

localboysince1968
Jun 20, 2008 at 11:27 a.m.
Suggest removal

banker17 - I think you are being too nice....

banker17
Jun 20, 2008 at 10:21 a.m.
Suggest removal

Sleezeball.

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