Sexual Assault Charges Against Jacob Blake Dropped
Blake pleads guilty to disorderly conduct, receives two-years probation.
A screen shot of Jacob Blake, center, attending a brief virtual pre-trial hearing on Oct. 21, 2020 regarding charges he faces for criminal trespass, third-degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct. Corrinne Hess/WPR
The state of Wisconsin dropped sexual assault charges against Jacob Blake on Friday.
Kenosha Police were trying to take Jacob Blake into custody on an outstanding sexual assault warrant when officer Rusten Sheskey shot him seven times in the back Aug. 23. The shooting set off weeks of protests in Kenosha that in turn prompted right-wing backlash, including the shooting of three protesters by 17-year-old Illinois resident Kyle Rittenhouse.
Blake was charged with sexual assault for domestic incidents that happened months before he was shot. After the shooting, he was handcuffed to his hospital bed, as he was in federal custody for the outstanding warrant, though the cuffs were removed and Milwaukee deputies standing guard were dismissed after he posted bail.
He appeared Friday via Zoom Friday and pleaded guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct, for which he was sentenced to two years of probation.
Blake is paralyzed following the August shooting and has been undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation center in Illinois since being released from the hospital. He will be allowed to live in Illinois under the terms of his probation.
Listen to the WPR report here.
State Drops Sexual Assault Charges Against Jacob Blake was originally published by Wisconsin Public Radio.
More about the Shooting of Jacob Blake
- No Federal Charges For Officer That Shot Jacob Blake - Madeline Fox - Oct 8th, 2021
- Federal Officials Close Review of the Officer-Involved Shooting of Jacob Blake - U.S. Department of Justice - Oct 8th, 2021
- WisGOP Statement on One-Year Anniversary of Kenosha Violence - Republican Party of Wisconsin - Aug 24th, 2021
- One Year After Jacob Blake Shooting Kenosha Seeks Answers - Isiah Holmes and Henry Redman - Aug 23rd, 2021
- Gov. Evers Releases Statement One Year After Jacob Blake Shooting - Gov. Tony Evers - Aug 23rd, 2021
- Kenosha Activists Arrested During Protest of Jacob Blake - Henry Redman - May 6th, 2021
- Body Cameras Key To Charges Against Police - Corrinne Hess - May 4th, 2021
- Wisconsin Police Donated to Officer that Shot Jacob Blake - Jenny Peek and Corrinne Hess - Apr 16th, 2021
- Kenosha activists respond to tonight’s Officer Sheskey announcement - Leaders of Kenosha - Apr 13th, 2021
- Kenosha Police Department Statement on Officer Rusten Sheskey’s Return From Administrative Leave - Kenosha Police Department - Apr 13th, 2021
Read more about Shooting of Jacob Blake here
