WI - Prosecutor 'sexted' abuse victim, Chilton, 2010

[Belinda]

I knew once one victim gathered the courage to go up against him, others would follow. There was never any doubt in my mind that he has done this many times.

 

[Mercyneal]

Ok, let's hope the Governor REALLY moves fast to remove him.

I am sure more women will be coming forward this week. Credit goes to the first woman who went to the police.

Why in God's name did the Wisconsin legal regulatory group think he had not done anything wrong?

 

[noZme]

(Professional) suicide by text message.

Eeewwwww! I bet this isn't a recent "manopause" thing; I wonder what his MO was before texting... lude & lacivious phone messages?

Like Fairy1 said, I hope he is disbarred & wifey takes him for everything. And.... I hope she clips those huge brass balls off & makes earrings!

 

[Mercyneal]

A fourth woman has come forward to say that DA Kenneth Kratz "sexted" her.

And like the first woman to come forward, she is a victim of domestic violence.

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/103496899.html

 

[tlcya]

Just watched third (or maybe fourth) victim to come forward. The young lady wanted his help getting a past criminal conviction removed. She was on GMA this morning. I found her VERY credible.

 

[Mercyneal]

This is truly disgusting: The lawyer for Wisconsin DA Kenneth Kratz says they're only coming forward because they want money:

Lawyer: Women complaining about Wis. DA want money

By RYAN J. FOLEY (AP) – 49 minutes ago

MADISON, Wis. — The attorney for a Wisconsin prosecutor accused of abusing his power to seek relationships says women who have come forward since the first allegations were reported are "driven by financial opportunity."

Read more here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j3RabQQP2C5H1Kvgh-TUM11KNPlAD9ID12683

 

[Blondie in Spokane]

This is truly disgusting: The lawyer for Wisconsin DA Kenneth Kratz says they're only coming forward because they want money:

Lawyer: Women complaining about Wis. DA want money

By RYAN J. FOLEY (AP) – 49 minutes ago

MADISON, Wis. — The attorney for a Wisconsin prosecutor accused of abusing his power to seek relationships says women who have come forward since the first allegations were reported are "driven by financial opportunity."

Read more here: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j3RabQQP2C5H1Kvgh-TUM11KNPlAD9ID12683

what a freakin rude comment! That's about the worst thing he could have said....what a dufus

 

[Belinda]

This attorney is just digging a deeper hole for his client. He needs to put a cork in it and stop making things worse.

 

[tlcya]

What else is the jerk's attorney going to say? My client is a slimy worm who abuses his position and his power to attempt to get a little on the side by re-victimizing the citizens who he is charged with helping?

Of course he is going to deny an dtry to shift blame to the victim (I am losing track, does that make it three times now they've been victimized?)

Wisconsin should be ashamed and should act yesterday to get this slime ball permantly removed from his position and further he should be fined and penalized for betraying the public trust.

 

[Mercyneal]

Kratz must still be in denial, because his lawyer is now telling reporters that he hopes to get his old job back after he finishes his "in patient therapy."

From the Appleton Post Crescent:

Attorney for Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz says prosecutor wants to return to job after therapy

Governor's office dealing with 'outpouring' of complaints from Calumet County residents

BY JIM COLLAR AND BEN JONES • POST-CRESCENT STAFF WRITER • SEPTEMBER 22, 2010

The attorney for embattled Calumet County Dist. Atty. Ken Kratz said today the prosecutor wants to return to office after undergoing in-patient therapy, but acknowledged Kratz’s ability to do his job is compromised.



Read more: http://www.postcrescent.com/article...-to-return-to-job-after-therapy#ixzz10HKWqhNC

 

[Belinda]

I love how every high profile person that gets in trouble runs to inpatient 'therapy' to cover their rear ends. This might buy him a little time, but his days are numbered. I don't think there is any way for him to overcome the deluge of calls for his resignation. He is living in a dream world in his little inpatient therapy, meanwhile victims continue to come forward. I suspect there are many more to come. I feel so sorry for these people that felt they couldn't report him for fear of repercussions. That just makes it even that much more vile. He was smug in his attitude that he was untouchable. Wrong.

 

[RLynne]

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/103534414.html

Finally!

Gov. Jim Doyle said Wednesday afternoon he has received a verified complaint against embattled Calumet County District Attorney Kenneth R. Kratz and is beginning the process of removing Kratz from office.

Kratz will be notified of the charges against him, according to a statement from Doyle's office. A public hearing will be scheduled.

Also:

Doyle said he was particularly troubled by allegations from a law student who said Kratz tried to gain sexual favors from her after agreeing to assist her in getting a pardon from Doyle for a 1997 drug conviction.
...
"There was an (alleged) attempt to use my power as governor - my pardon power - to somehow have a relationship with a woman," Doyle said. "That is something I take very seriously. . . .  Subverting the pardon power of the governor - that's a very serious allegation."

and

The power to remove district attorneys should be used sparingly, Doyle said. Governors shouldn't remove prosecutors for partisan reasons or because they disagree with the way a routine case was handled, he said. Doyle is a Democrat and Kratz is a Republican, but the criticism of Kratz has come from both sides of the aisle.

It'll be interesting to see how, and if, this plays into the election season. There have been some reports indicating the Attorney General, J.B. Van Hollen (a Republican), knew about the first allegations against Kratz, but did nothing (e.g., he didn't notify the governor, Doyle, a Democrat). Doyle's not running for re-election (although the gubernatorial race is pretty heated), but Van Hollen is. In any case, I'm glad that the door is open, and will hopefully be hitting Kratz on the way out real soon.

 

[Fairy1]

This guy is a sick pig. IMO, his actions are a classic, perverted abuse of power. I hope they throw the book at him!

I'm sure they will need to look at all past cases in which he was involved to ensure they were handled properly. How much will that cost the taxpayers???

 

[Mercyneal]

Kratz's "self-reporting" letter to the Office of Lawyer Regulation.

He starts off by saying that he "perceived some flirtation" from the victim. Takes no responsibility.

Truly a disgusting human being:

http://media.journalinteractive.com/documents/Kratz+letter2_092210.pdf

 

[Belinda]

He sure spent an awful lot of time tooting his own horn while he was supposedly 'self-reporting.' What a complete joke. He totally lied and deflected onto the victim. Once the actual texts came to light, his self-reporting letter is obviously complete and total crap. I sincerely hope the Governor is doing what he says and moving swiftly to remove this piece of trash from an office he does not deserve. He is a victims worst nightmare.

 

[tlcya]

Yeah, I'm with you belinda. The self report was more like self promote. What a joke. Interesting that none of the exhibits he cites as backing up his claims of a mututal interest between he and the victim were available with the letter.

As you say, it will be interesting to read the texts in their complete form.

 

[Mercyneal]

It's about time: Lawmaker Calls for a Legislative Audit of Office of Lawyer Regulation

Lawmaker calls for a legislative audit of OLR
by JACKIE JOHNSON on SEPTEMBER 23, 2010
in CRIME & COURTS,POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Madison Democrat Representative Terese Berceau says the Office of Lawyer Regulation declined to properly investigate Calumet County District Attorney Kenneth Kratz for sending sexually suggestive text messages to a domestic violence victim.

Berceau is calling for an audit of the attorney discipline agency to get to the bottom of all the accusations. “I think there’s been a lot of finger pointing, but I think the one thing that everybody’s come down to is ‘why didn’t this office do more?’ And I think we do want to take a look at what they did do and what they do in general.”

Read more here:
http://www.wrn.com/2010/09/lawmaker-calls-for-a-legislative-audit-of-olr/

 

[Mercyneal]

You can read Wisconsin Governor Doyle's request to remove Kratz here. It also includes two official requests from citizens to remove Kratz. More of the text messages are included in these letters:

http://www.postcrescent.com/assets/pdf/U0164400922.PDF

 

[tlcya]

TY mercyneal for posting the link with Katz's text mesages. I was sickened to my stomach and had to quit after page 9. What an insuferable *ss.

 

[Mercyneal]

A lawyer from the oversight committee of the Office of Lawyer Regulation is defending its decision not to take action against Kratz:


Oversight lawyer defends inaction vs. 'sexting' DA

Associated Press - September 23, 2010 3:45 PM ET

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - A member of the board that monitors fairness in Wisconsin's lawyer regulation system is defending its inaction against the prosecutor who "sexted" a crime victim.

Kenosha lawyer Terry Rose said the Office of Lawyer Regulation should not revisit its decision to clear Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz.

More here:http://www.wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=13207038