Charges Filed in Kenosha County for Serial Sex Assaults Uncovered by Backlogged Sexual Assault Kits

KENOSHA, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul and Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley are today announcing charges have been filed in a case involving multiple previously backlogged sexual assaults evidence kits.

“This case shows why it’s critical for public safety that every sexual assault kit is sent to the Wisconsin State Crime Labs. Thank you to the multi-disciplinary team at DOJ that has carefully reviewed cold cases to get justice for survivors and to DA Graveley for prosecuting this case,” said Attorney General Kaul.

“This outcome is exactly what local prosecutors were hoping for when the Attorney General and the DOJ redoubled the efforts to get all remaining cold case sexual assault evidence tested a few years ago. Based on the allegation in this complaint, Kenosha is tangibly safer today because of these efforts,” said Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley.

In the complaint, Matthew P. Crockett, age 46 of Racine, is accused of first degree sexual assault, second degree sexual assault, and two counts of false imprisonment. The complaint alleges assaults occurred in 2014 and 2015 in Kenosha. The complaint also mentions two other alleged assaults that occurred in Racine in 2014 and 2017. Multiple previously backlogged sexual assault kits were tested as part of the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative, linked, and led to the today’s charges.

Further details are available in complaint. Contact dojcommunications@doj.state.wi.us to receive the complaint. A booking photo is attached.

The prosecution is led by Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley.

This investigation was the result of a joint effort by local, state, and federal partners, as well as a multi-disciplinary team of criminal justice professionals at the Wisconsin Department of Justice from the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratory (WSCL), Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Division of Legal Services (DLS), Office of Crime Victim Services (OCVS), and Bureau of Justice Information and Analysis (BJIA), and Wisconsin Statewide Intelligence Center. They were assisted by the Racine Police Department, Kenosha Police Department, Racine County District Attorney’s Office, and the FBI.

As in any criminal proceeding, Mr. Crockett is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

For survivors looking for information about their sexual assault kit, contact the law enforcement agency where the assault was reported, a local sexual assault service provider, or the DOJ Office of Crime Victim Services at 1-800-446-6564.

Press release: https://www.doj.state.wi.us/news-releases/charges-filed-kenosha-county-serial-sex-assaults-uncovered-backlogged-sexual-assault

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.