MONROE - A man charged with sexually assaulting an underage Belleville teen was sentenced to six months in Green County jail and five years of probation for contributing to the delinquency of a child and fourth-degree sexual assault.
Johnathon Todd Sutherland, 23, Albany, was charged in February after the Department of Justice discovered sexually explicit correspondence between Sutherland and the girl on Facebook. The two met in November of 2014 and had sex in his vehicle.
Prosecuting attorney Shelly Rusch requested Sutherland be given probation and six months of jail time after describing the girl's behavior as "high-risk" that Sutherland should have disregarded rather than encouraged.
Rusch explained the teen's past was very troubled, and expressed the need to share details of the girl's life with Sutherland and the court.
In evidence found as the result of an investigation, Rusch said Sutherland knew the victim was underage, but pursued a sexual relationship anyway. When asked by Judge Thomas Vale whether he would like to enter a statement, Sutherland said he takes "full responsibility for what I've done to this family and to this girl."
Conditions of Sutherland's probation include the release for work and permission to travel both out of Green County and outside of Wisconsin. Sutherland was not included on the national sex offenders registry, though he was ordered to have no contact with any minors with the exception of two nephews and his daughters, who are both under the age of 10. Rusch said she did not believe he was a threat to them.
Vale asked how Sutherland would feel if someone had taken similar actions against his daughters.
"Probably the same everyone thinks about me," Sutherland said.
Vale made a note before delivering the decision to say there is no defense because there was no deception by the victim regarding her age. There may be a physical maturity, but it is not equivalent to an emotional or mental maturity, he added.
Sutherland was ordered to report to the Green County jail by 3 p.m. on Friday to begin his sentence, followed by probation in which he will be required to avoid alcohol, drugs, the use of computers or social media applications without permission by his probation officer.
Johnathon Todd Sutherland, 23, Albany, was charged in February after the Department of Justice discovered sexually explicit correspondence between Sutherland and the girl on Facebook. The two met in November of 2014 and had sex in his vehicle.
Prosecuting attorney Shelly Rusch requested Sutherland be given probation and six months of jail time after describing the girl's behavior as "high-risk" that Sutherland should have disregarded rather than encouraged.
Rusch explained the teen's past was very troubled, and expressed the need to share details of the girl's life with Sutherland and the court.
In evidence found as the result of an investigation, Rusch said Sutherland knew the victim was underage, but pursued a sexual relationship anyway. When asked by Judge Thomas Vale whether he would like to enter a statement, Sutherland said he takes "full responsibility for what I've done to this family and to this girl."
Conditions of Sutherland's probation include the release for work and permission to travel both out of Green County and outside of Wisconsin. Sutherland was not included on the national sex offenders registry, though he was ordered to have no contact with any minors with the exception of two nephews and his daughters, who are both under the age of 10. Rusch said she did not believe he was a threat to them.
Vale asked how Sutherland would feel if someone had taken similar actions against his daughters.
"Probably the same everyone thinks about me," Sutherland said.
Vale made a note before delivering the decision to say there is no defense because there was no deception by the victim regarding her age. There may be a physical maturity, but it is not equivalent to an emotional or mental maturity, he added.
Sutherland was ordered to report to the Green County jail by 3 p.m. on Friday to begin his sentence, followed by probation in which he will be required to avoid alcohol, drugs, the use of computers or social media applications without permission by his probation officer.