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State says man is sexually violent

ELKHORN — The state Attorney Generals’ Office has petitioned to keep a Walworth County man locked up in a mental institution, saying he is sexually violent.

Scott R. Schmidt, 46, is a former resident of Elkhorn convicted of seven felonies: burglary, false imprisonment, intimidation of a witness and four counts of first-degree sexual assault.

He had been scheduled to be released from prison July 7.

But Assistant Attorney General Erik Peterson filed a petition in Walworth County Court to keep Schmidt in a detention facility.

Schmidt has a mental disorder that makes him predisposed to engage in acts of sexual violence and causes him serious difficulty in controlling his behavior, according to the petition.

In 1994, Schmidt participated in a sex offender program and admitted he had:

-- Raped five women.

-- Touched 10 women inappropriately.

-- Watched 20 to 30 undress, use the bathroom or engage in sexual acts with a partner.

-- Exposed himself to four female victims.

Schmidt was released on probation in 2003 but was locked in the Walworth County Jail for probation violation three times in 2004 and twice in 2008. His probation eventually was revoked, and Schmidt was sent back to prison.

A psychologist with the Department of Corrections reported Schmidt is more likely than not to reoffend, has a life-long personality disorder and is sexually obsessed, according to the petition.

Schmidt is due for a hearing Thursday, July 16.