Jheryl M. Pickens, 24, Waupaca, was charged with repeated sexual assault of a child, sexual assault of a child, two counts of felony child abuse and two counts of felony strangulation.
On July 17, Waupaca Police Officer Nicole Hahn was advised of a possible sexual assault involving Pickens and a 15-year-old girl. Hahn spoke with the girl’s mother, who said she was unaware of any sexual assaults. She said she and her daughter would go to the police station the following morning.
According to the criminal complaint, the mother called Hahn later that day and said her daughter told her that Pickens was sexually abusing her.
Hahn, a social worker, the mother, the girl and her brother met at the Waupaca police station.
Investigators reported that the boy described Pickens as “an angry man who yelled a lot and sometimes hit him.” He accused Pickens of grabbing him by the throat and choking him on two occasions.
The girl told investigators that Pickens would give her notes telling her what he wanted her to do, the complaint says. He allegedly began touching the girl inappropriately, then later sexually assaulted her.
Pickens allegedly placed a blanket over the girl’s head and played the radio so that nobody would hear her if she yelled, the complaint says.
Pickens has been charged as a repeat offender. He was convicted of felony strangulation in a domestic abuse incident in Outagamie County in 2010 and placed on three years probation. His probation was revoked, and he was sent to prison on Nov. 10.
He faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted of sexual assault of a child.