A Georgia man has been charged with five felony child sexual assault offenses after Racine County authorities said allegations against him span more than three decades, dating back to the 1980s, according to court records and a July 29 news release from the Racine County Sheriff’s Office.
Trevor G. Stratton, 58, is charged with one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child under age 12, three counts of first-degree sexual assault against a child and one count of incest. If convicted on all counts, Stratton faces up to 280 years in prison and fines up to $500,000.
Racine County Sheriff’s Office said allegations against Stratton go back to the 1980s
The Racine County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation began April 21 after detectives received multiple allegations of child sexual assault involving identified Wisconsin victims. Investigators said assault accusations span several decades, beginning in the 1980s and continuing through at least 2010.
Allegations that Stratton may have other victims in the greater Racine area have not been able to be substantiated, investigators said.
Detectives also learned that similar allegations against Stratton had been previously investigated in Glynn County, Georgia, where he had been employed by an organization that provided care and educational services to children with developmental disabilities.
Following the investigation, the Racine County Sheriff’s Office referred multiple recommended charges to the Racine County District Attorney’s Office.
A criminal complaint was filed July 16, and a warrant for Stratton’s arrest was issued July 21. Stratton voluntarily appeared for his initial appearance in Racine County Circuit Court on July 29, where deputies took him into custody.
Stratton is being held in the Racine County Jail on a $10,000 cash bond. During the hearing, Stratton’s attorney moved to dismiss four of the five charges. The judge reserved ruling on the motion and scheduled a hearing for Aug. 24.
“Cases involving the sexual abuse of children are among the most disturbing investigations our detectives undertake,” Racine Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said in the news release. “We recognize that it can take victims years, or even decades, to come forward, and we commend the courage of those who have done so in this case. If anyone has information about Trevor Stratton or believes they may have been victimized by him, I strongly encourage them to contact our investigators. Even the smallest piece of information may be critical to ensuring justice and protecting others.”
The Racine County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about Stratton or who believes they had contact with him that may be relevant to the investigation to contact Investigator Brady Winger at 262-636-3174.
Stratton’s attorney did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
Adrienne Davis is a general assignment and breaking news 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 story was updated to add new information.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man charged with multiple child sexual assaults in Racine County
Reporting by Adrienne Davis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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By Adrienne Davis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
