GREEN LAKE, Wis. – Two lawyers from Illinois have been accused of sexually assaulting a woman who had agreed to give them a ride from a Ripon tavern to the place where they were staying in Green Lake.
Charged in Green Lake County Circuit Court were Stephan W. Addison, 27, of Medinah, Ill., and Benjamin C. Butler, 27, of Chicago. Both were freed on cash bail pending initial court appearances Sept. 12. The charges were filed Aug. 16.
Martin Kohler, the lawyer for Butler, said when contacted Monday night that his client denies all the allegations against him in the matter. He said it was too early in the case to comment further, except that “it will be fought very vigorously.”
Attorney Stephen Hurley, who represents Addison, said he could not discuss “any of the alleged facts” at this stage in the case.
The criminal complaint said the 27-year-old woman was assaulted in the early morning hours Aug. 7 in rural Green Lake County after agreeing to give the men a ride because they said they lost their keys.
According to court records, the woman resisted sexual advances of the two, and they pulled her hair, tore her clothing and held her down while having sexual contact, and one of them bit her on the arm.
Addison was charged with three felony counts of first-degree sexual assault while aided by another, one misdemeanor count of fourth-degree sexual assault and one felony count of false imprisonment. The charges carry a maximum of more than 186 years in prison.
Butler was charged with felony first-degree sexual assault while aided by another, as a party to the crime, felony false imprisonment and a misdemeanor count of battery. The charges carry a maximum of nearly 67 years in prison.
