Child Sexual Assault Defense in Eau Claire County, WI

If you have been accused of child sexual assault in Eau Claire County, WI, the case against you begins before charges are filed, and so should your defense. Cohen Law Offices LLC defends the accused in the most serious felony matters Wisconsin prosecutes, and child sexual assault allegations sit at the top of that list. Call 715-514-5051 for a confidential consultation.

What Child Sexual Assault Charges in Eau Claire County Actually Look Like

Child sexual assault in Wisconsin is charged under Wis. Stat. § 948.02, with first-degree offenses classified as Class B felonies and second-degree offenses as Class C felonies. Repeated acts against the same child fall under Wis. Stat. § 948.025. These carry decades of potential prison exposure and, on conviction, mandatory registration under Wis. Stat. § 301.45. Charges often arrive after weeks or months of investigation, meaning the version of events written into the criminal complaint may be shaped long before you know you are a suspect.

That gap between investigation and formal charge is where a defense attorney can make the largest difference. What a suspect says or does not say to law enforcement during that window frequently determines what evidence the state can use at trial.

How These Cases Move Through Eau Claire County

Child sexual assault cases in Eau Claire County are prosecuted at the Eau Claire County Courthouse, 721 Oxford Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54703. A typical case follows this path:

1. Initial report and forensic interview. In most cases the reporting starts through a mandated reporter (school staff, healthcare provider, or family member) and moves quickly to a forensic interview at a child advocacy center. That interview is often the state's single most important piece of evidence.
2. Law enforcement investigation. Investigators may conduct interviews with the accused, family members, and other witnesses. They may also seek search warrants for phones, computers, and cloud accounts.
3. Charging decision. The Eau Claire County District Attorney's office reviews the file and decides whether to file. That decision is not automatic and is one of the points where a defense attorney can be effective.
4. Preliminary hearing, motion practice, and trial. From arraignment forward, procedural moves such as motions to suppress and challenges to interview methodology can reshape the case long before a jury sees it.
   

We advise anyone under investigation in Eau Claire County to consult with a defense attorney before speaking with law enforcement, and to consult again before turning over any device or account.

How Cohen Law Offices Defends the Accused

A serious defense in child sexual assault cases starts with the evidence the state is planning to use, not the allegation itself. Our work typically covers:

• Reviewing the forensic interview recording for suggestive or leading questioning that may have shaped a child's statement.
• Examining the timing and circumstances of the initial report, including whether delayed disclosure is consistent with the state's theory.
• Analyzing digital evidence (phones, computers, chat logs, cloud accounts) both for what it shows and for how it was obtained.
• Testing medical findings and expert opinions offered by the prosecution.
• Investigating relationships between the accuser, the accused, and third parties for motives to fabricate or exaggerate.
• Filing motions to challenge improperly obtained statements, evidence, or search results.
  

Every case is different, and every case is defensible on its own facts. Our role is to make the presumption of innocence real, not rhetorical, and to make the state prove every element of what it has charged.

The Reality of Being Accused

Even before a case reaches a courtroom, an accusation of child sexual assault reshapes a person's life. Jobs are lost, families divide, and community reputation collapses on the strength of an allegation alone. We understand that. We also know that fair outcomes are still possible for people who face these charges, especially when a defense begins early and moves methodically. Cohen Law Offices has represented individuals charged with felony sexual offenses across Wisconsin for over 30 years, and we know the local prosecutors, judges, and evidentiary standards in Eau Claire County.

Our related practice pages cover sexual assault defense generally, internet sex crimes where digital evidence is central, and felony defense more broadly.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you or a family member has been accused of child sexual assault in Eau Claire County, WI, call Cohen Law Offices at 715-514-5051 or reach out through our contact page. Consultations are confidential, and the earlier we start, the more of the case we can shape.