Officer in assault case to face new charges

Second case emerges, but few details

By RAQUEL RUTLEDGE
rrutledge@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Feb. 22, 2006

A longtime Milwaukee police officer accused of sexually assaulting a woman in October will face additional charges stemming from a second complainant, prosecutors said Wednesday.


Police sources have told the Journal Sentinel that Officer Steven J. Lelinski has been investigated in the past for similar allegations but no charges were ever filed.

Prosecutors offered few details about the new charges against Lelinski, 41, but said an amended complaint would be released next week.

Lelinski's preliminary hearing, which had been scheduled for Wednesday in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, was adjourned until March 2 because of the new charges.

Deputy District Attorney Jon Reddin wouldn't say whether the upcoming charges are related to any previous cases his office has reviewed or whether the alleged victim in the second case had recently stepped forward.

Lelinski's attorney, Steve Kohn, said he first learned of prosecutors' plans to file more charges on Wednesday before the preliminary hearing. He said he knew nothing about the woman or the allegations.

"In my experience, it is not uncommon for other people to come forward and start making complaints once an individual has a target on them as Mr. Lelinski does, nor is it uncommon for the district attorney's office to dust off cases they have dismissed . . . and somehow breathe new life into them," Kohn said. "I don't think there's any physical evidence" in either case, he added.

Lelinski, a 16-year veteran of the department who has been appointed and elected to several influential boards, was charged Feb. 13 with second-degree sexual assault, attempted second-degree sexual assault - both felonies - and lewd and lascivious behavior, a misdemeanor. He is free on a $25,000 signature bond. He was suspended from the department with pay the same day he was charged.

The criminal complaint alleges that Lelinski met a woman - whom the Journal Sentinel is not identifying because of a policy of not publishing the names of sexual assault complainants - while on duty and then pursued her for several weeks before assaulting her on Oct. 18 in her home while he was off duty.

Michael Chernin, the attorney representing the 22-year-old woman, said additional women have contacted him with similar complaints against Lelinski, and that he is investigating their claims. He is not representing the latest complainant linked with the upcoming charges, he said.

"People are coming out of the woodwork who have suffered at the hands of Steven Lelinski," Chernin said.

Gov. Jim Doyle yanked Lelinski, a second-shift patrol officer on the southwest side, from the powerful Law Enforcements Standards Board, and trustees of the Milwaukee Police Association removed him from their board. He remains a member of the city Pension Board and president of the Milwaukee Police Relief Association. The association has not returned repeated calls seeking comment.

Can you believe that? I can, you know why?

I KNOW THE BASTARD. I work at Serb Hall, he knows upper managment people at Serb Hall and eats there, fee! I have talked to this man!!!

I hate this guy, he was always such a prick and now this shit. I'm stunned. He was very sexist, homophobic, and overall, a pig.

Anyway, here are more links about his case...
Board passes on assigning officer
Accused officer's clout shrinks
Officer in assault case to face new charges
Paydays for fired police could end
Officer in sex case was kept on duty
Board drops officer
Police officer charged in sex assault

Weird, eh? But he had it coming. Of course, I haven't seen him since the news, but I am still in shock.

Well, I thought it was worth noting. More updates to come. Including one on the touchy subject of abortion!

That's it!

Just Stupid:
Officer Lelinski

-Mr. Joseph