A 22-year-old Cedarburg man faces serious charges after being accused of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior involving two underage boys at a Cedarburg park, according to a criminal complaint filed July 23 by the Ozaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
Riley Morrow, 22, is charged with three felonies: one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child and two counts of child enticement. If convicted on all counts, he faces up to 110 years in prison and fines totaling up to $200,000.
Morrow allegedly lured two boys under a bridge at Cedar Creek Park on July 15, according to Cedarburg police
According to the criminal complaint:
Officers were dispatched to the park around 9:30 p.m. for a report of a man who had inappropriate contact with two underage boys near Portland Road.
A sergeant spoke with one of the boys, born in 2015, who said he and another boy, also born in 2015, went fishing at the park earlier that day. The boy said a man — later identified as Morrow — approached them and asked one of the boys to take a photo of him holding a fish he caught. After the photo, the boy said his friend gave Morrow a high five.
Later, Morrow returned and offered the boys a small Bluetooth speaker. One of the boys said Morrow then led them under a bridge. Afraid he would be chased if he refused, the boy followed.
The boy said, under the bridge, Morrow told them, “The only way you’re going to get this speaker is if I get to slap your butt.” The boy said he declined, but Morrow stood up and slapped him on the buttocks while he stood frozen in fear.
Morrow then said, “The only way you’re leaving is if you slap my butt,” and pulled down his shorts, exposing his underwear and buttocks. The boy said he punched Morrow in the buttocks and ran away with his friend.
The boys told police Morrow asked where they lived, and they lied, saying they were from out of town. He also told them he would return to the park later for Summer Sounds and asked them to “moon” him.
One of the boys said Morrow took a phone call, possibly from a parent or friend asking for a ride. When the boys returned home, they destroyed the Bluetooth speaker with a hammer, fearing it contained a tracking device.
The second boy gave a similar account to police. He said Morrow wouldn’t let them leave unless they agreed to a spanking. He also said Morrow spanked the first boy, asked both to “moon” him, and warned them not to tell anyone what happened. He, too, said they later destroyed the speaker, suspecting it might contain an AirTag.
He told police Morrow told them he was 17 years old, but appeared to be in his mid-20s.
Police reviewed surveillance footage showing Morrow interaction with the two boys under a bridge at the park
Police, who were familiar with the park, reviewed surveillance footage showing Morrow interacting with the two under a bridge in the park in a secluded area out of public view.
The video showed Morrow arriving at the park around 6:26 p.m. spending time with the boys under the bridge for nearly 30 minutes before they left the area. Officers later recovered a discarded Celsius energy drink can that matched the one seen in Morrow’s hand on video.
Still images from the footage were shown to the boys, with one positively identifying Morrow. Police later posted the image on Facebook prompting more than a dozen tips, including one from Morrow’s mother. A vehicle registered to Morrow’s parents was also seen in the area that day.
On July 21, investigators interviewed Morrow, who waived his Miranda rights and admitted to slapping one of the boys on the buttocks and pulling down his shorts, stating he did so in a secluded area to avoid getting caught.
Morrow said the encounter with the boys gave him a “romantic” physical feeling and acknowledged he sometimes has “dark thoughts.”
Morrow also referenced a previous July 7 incident involving other juvenile boys in a park restroom. Since the release of his photo, police have received multiple additional reports of possible similar conduct involving Morrow.
A cash bond for Morrow was set for $250,000 on July 23. He was also ordered to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18.
He is due back in court on Aug. 25 for a status hearing.
Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cedarburg man faces felony child assault charges after park incident
Reporting by Adrienne Davis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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