MONROE - A 23-year-old man pleaded guilty and was convicted of first-degree sexual assault of a 3-year-old girl Thursday morning, Jan. 10, in Green County Circuit Court.
Derek Joseph Grinnell, formerly of Albany, was released from jail in September on a $5,000 bond and has been staying with relatives in Monroe.
He waived his right to a trial and entered a plea agreement Thursday on a Class B felony charge of having sexual contact with a person under the age of 13. He faces up to 60 years in prison and lifetime supervision as a serious sex offender.
At the request of Jeffrey Kohl, assistant district attorney, the felony was amended from an initial charge of sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 12.
Judge Thomas Vale will be able to consider in his sentencing three additional dismissed but "read in" felonies, including child enticement and two counts of exposing genitals to a child. Vale is ordering the Department of Corrections to complete a pre-sentence investigation of Grinnell. This document, due in 45 days, examines Grinnell's background and makes a sentencing recommendation.
Grinnell told the judge he is seeing a counselor in Janesville "for the hope that ... I don't end up doing nothing to my family, and be better to myself and be better to my family." He also said he hopes to soon be on medication for his anger and depression.
His attorney, Philip Brehm, said Grinnell has limited cognitive abilities but "I think he understands what's going on."
About 10 family members and friends turned out to the hearing. Some hugged Grinnell afterward.
Grinnell has no previous criminal record. According to police reports filed with the criminal complaint in late July, he admitted to an investigating officer that he sexually assaulted the girl and has searched for and looked at child porn on the Internet.
He asked the officer to get him counseling help for his "anger and sexual urges."
His sentencing hearing is set for March 5.
Derek Joseph Grinnell, formerly of Albany, was released from jail in September on a $5,000 bond and has been staying with relatives in Monroe.
He waived his right to a trial and entered a plea agreement Thursday on a Class B felony charge of having sexual contact with a person under the age of 13. He faces up to 60 years in prison and lifetime supervision as a serious sex offender.
At the request of Jeffrey Kohl, assistant district attorney, the felony was amended from an initial charge of sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 12.
Judge Thomas Vale will be able to consider in his sentencing three additional dismissed but "read in" felonies, including child enticement and two counts of exposing genitals to a child. Vale is ordering the Department of Corrections to complete a pre-sentence investigation of Grinnell. This document, due in 45 days, examines Grinnell's background and makes a sentencing recommendation.
Grinnell told the judge he is seeing a counselor in Janesville "for the hope that ... I don't end up doing nothing to my family, and be better to myself and be better to my family." He also said he hopes to soon be on medication for his anger and depression.
His attorney, Philip Brehm, said Grinnell has limited cognitive abilities but "I think he understands what's going on."
About 10 family members and friends turned out to the hearing. Some hugged Grinnell afterward.
Grinnell has no previous criminal record. According to police reports filed with the criminal complaint in late July, he admitted to an investigating officer that he sexually assaulted the girl and has searched for and looked at child porn on the Internet.
He asked the officer to get him counseling help for his "anger and sexual urges."
His sentencing hearing is set for March 5.