A Portage man whom authorities said they think is a sex offender convicted in the state of Oregon in the 1990s faces as many as 128 years in prison on charges that include allegations of the sexual assault of an 11-year-old girl.
Warren J. Henkelman, 42, faces an initial prison sentence of at least 25 years and up to 128 years. He is charged with six felonies: first-degree sexual assault of a child under age 12, first-degree child sexual assault - contact with a child under age 13, physical abuse of a child - intentionally causing bodily harm and three counts of possession of child pornography; and with misdemeanor exposing genitals or pubic area.
Henkelman was arrested Tuesday after authorities with the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, acting on evidence that Henkelman offered to participate in distributing child pornography, executed a search warrant on his Henry Drive apartment, according to Portage police.
As part of the investigation, police discovered three printed photographs of child pornography dated June 2004, according to a criminal complaint.
Authorities said Henkelman about two weeks ago gave a 10-year-old girl and an 11-year-old girl alcohol to drink and sexually assaulted at least one of them, warning them not to tell anyone, the complaint stated.
Henkelman pushed the head of an 11-year-old girl repeatedly into a bed, causing a bruise on her forehead and making it difficult for her to breath, the complaint stated.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offenders Registry Web site, Henkelman was convicted in the state of Oregon in June 1992 of third-degree rape. Although he is a lifetime registrant as a sex offender, he did not inform authorities in Wisconsin of his move into the area, according to Detective Lt. Mark Hahn of the Portage Police Department.
Police learned of his status as a lifetime sex offender registrant as a result of the investigation by the Division of Criminal Investigation.
Hahn said Henkelman probably has lived in Portage at least four or five years.
"There's no way we would've known that he was a registered sex offender," Hahn said.
Police are continuing to investigate Henkelman's activities; Hahn urged anyone with any information regarding Henkelman to contact the Portage Police Department at 742-2171.
Henkelman, who remains in the Columbia County Jail, is likely to make an initial appearance on the charges Monday.
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