Crime & Safety
Hudson Man Pleads Not-Guilty in Child Sexual Assault Case; Bond Modified
A Hudson man has plead not-guilty to three child sexual assault charges and had his cash bond reduced from $25,000 to $7,500 with conditions during an arraignment in St. Croix County Circuit Court on Thursday, July 12.
A Hudson man pleaded not-guilty in Thursday afternoon to He also had his cash bond reduced from $25,000 to $7,500 with conditions.
Michael J. West appeared in court Thursday, July 12, with representation from defense attorney Charles S. Huff. After he entered his not-guilty plea, St. Croix County Circuit Court Judge Scott Needham considered a motion to amend West's $25,000 cash bond based on new statements from a witness in the case. Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth L. Rohl argued against the bond amendment.
After the arraignment, Huff told Patch that he expected Needham to amend the bond, but was hoping for a signature bond.
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"There's a huge credibility gap with these witnesses as to what happened," Huff said. "I think that was reflected in the bond that was modified. It went from $25,000 cash down to $7,500 with some conditions."
Huff said that the adult witness claims the sex was consensual, but the 13-year-old alleged victim claims it wasn't.
Find out what's happening in Hudsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"This girl came over to my client's home, got into his home, went into his room willingly and had consensual sex with him, according to the person she was bragging about the encounter with," Huff said.
But, the state mustn't prove sexual contact was nonconsensual when it comes to children, just that it occurred. Huff says the gap between what the witness and the alleged victim claim happened leaves a lot to question about the facts of the case.
"I think the fact that this alleged victim is bragging about this sexual encounter after it happens, saying what a great time it was, and that it was totally consensual differs substantially from what she ended up telling the police after she had denied anything had happened three times," Huff said. "She has contradicted herself a number of times, and one of their own witnesses contradicts her."
The alleged victim now is in the custody of foster parents in Baldwin.
West has not yet posted bond and remains in jail. He will next appear in court on July 25 for a pretrial conference.
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