Reported sex assault count stays steady
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A brief ceremony was held in a green space off of N. Washington St. recognizing Rock County's 250 reported cases of sexual assault in 2008. April is sexual assault awareness month.
JANESVILLE — The number of Rock County sexual assaults reported in 2008 was about the same as previous years, but many cases go unreported, officials said Tuesday.
"Not all victims are coming forward," said Pennie Meyers, program director for the Sexual Assault Recovery Program for Rock and Green counties.
"We all need to be challenged to stop the silence."
Rock County had 250 reported sexual assaults in 2008, officials said.
About 20 people gathered in a park outside Mercy Hospital on Tuesday to recognize the victims. Pinwheels were planted in the ground for each victim.
Members of Mercy Health System's Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner Program, law enforcement agencies, the Rock County District Attorney's Office and victim advocates attended the ceremony.
April is sexual assault awareness month.
Jackie Friar, coordinator for the hospital's program, said victims feel violated and demoralized.
She said domestic violence and child abuse often coincide with sex crimes.
"Sexual assaults show no boundaries," Friar said.
District Attorney David O'Leary said the partnership among the hospital, YWCA Rock County, attorneys and law enforcement has helped in the investigation of sexual assaults.
For example, the fact that sexual assault victims now do one taped interview about their rape is important, he said.
In the past, victims might have been interviewed several times by various agencies, each time reliving the crime, O'Leary said.
Dave Moore, Janesville police chief, said sexual assaults are taken seriously. He said sometimes the entire detective bureau is tapped to investigate a sex crime.
"Few crimes are more horrific than a sexual assault," he said. "Those crimes are exceedingly personal, and the psychological injuries frequently outlast the physical injuries."
Apr 30, 2009 at 3:06 p.m.
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"for such a Hanes crime" Try - Heinous
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What is your point? Who is protecting who?
Apr 29, 2009 at 7:37 p.m.
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I feel the reason people are keeping silent is because people protect the people who sexually assaulted them. Just like the owner of Frosty Freeze. He was convicted of Second Degree Sexual Assault of a Minor. There are people that are sticking up for him and stating that it didn’t happen or the boy consented to it or he made it up. When the facts are he was convicted and now he is a registered sex offender. The police look into stuff before someone is charged. The police would not just take a minors word for it and just arrest an innocent person for such a Hanes crime. Something had to be proven in order for him to be convicted and now a registered sex offender. If it didn’t happen, he would be convicted and he wouldn’t be a convicted sex offender. Second if it was a willing party to the act. The boy was still a minor and it is consider molesting a child. I posted my opinion on another topic but, the whole thing got deleted. Kind of strange. My point is no matter what this person is a registered sex offender. He owns a business in town that has to do with children. I think that is wrong!!! This is just my opinion.
You don’t have to take my word for it see for yourselves. The registered address is right there at frosty freeze.
If this comment gets erased like my last posting it will prove my theory right. And the whole thing about why people are keeping silent is prove to be true. But I will continue to post my opinion because I have that right. I am a resident of Janesville. This is public record and we all have the right to know where sex offenders are in are town. Thank you
http://offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/s...
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