Milwaukee Firefighter Sexually Assaulted 14-Year-Old Girl: Report

OAK CREEK, WI — Authorities say a City of Milwaukee firefighter has been arrested and charged after he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl multiple times.

According to a WTMJ report, a Lieutenant with the Milwaukee Fire Department, was arrested at about 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 by the Oak Creek Police Department at his home.

According to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Milwaukee County, the man has been charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child younger than 16 years old. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years behind bars.

Investigators say the man sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl three times between Sept. 1 and Nov. 20. According to the criminal complaint, staff at the Child Advocacy Center interview the child, where she told the story of three different encounters — all three took place within the home.

According to the criminal complaint, the man sent the girl a text message saying, "I am so sorry [about] what happened. I didn't mean to, please don't go, please don't tell anyone.," he said in the message. "I am going to go to prison, I'm going to get raped. I am so sorry...I want to help you..."

According to the criminal complaint, his sexual encounters with the girl stopped when he met his current girlfriend.

Investigators said the Milwaukee Fire Department lieutenant tried making it up to the girl he sexually assaulted, saying in a text message to a family member, "please realize that in the last 3 months since this happened that I have done a ton of work to regain trust including taken [the girl] to concerts hay rides haunted houses movie nights."

Investigators say he tried to explain what happened to family in separate messages, stating, "You guys are all very far removed for me and so you may not see how this has impacted me I have already made extreme life changes and carry this every day like a 100 pound weight. No matter what it looks like on the outside I assure you I’ve taken ownership ..."

The messages continued, investigators said. In one message, he tried to "minimize" the situation, according to the criminal complaint.

"You all may have the worst idea of what happened. I did not manipulate, lie, coerce, or force. And there was no penetration. These are difficult to talk about but need to be said. Since this happened I make sure that there is a appropriate level of clothing worn at all times in the house I also avoid situations that could in any way put anyone at risk," one text message read.

The name of the Milwaukee Fire Department lieutenant has been held from this story over privacy concerns for the 14-year-old girl also mentioned in this story.