Man convicted of sexual assault of a child

STEVENS POINT – Portage County District Attorney Cass Cousins announced that a Grand Rapids man, Cory Wille, 46, was convicted by a Portage County jury of second degree sexual assault of a child and incest. The two-day trial concluded on April 16, 2026 and was presided over by Portage County Circuit Court Branch 3 Judge Patricia Baker. The jury deliberated for approximately 45 minutes before returning unanimous guilty verdicts on both counts.
The matter is set for sentencing on May 21, 2026. Because the defendant has previously been convicted of child sex offenses on two earlier occasions, he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The defendant was arrested in Jan. of 2025 and was held in custody at the Portage County Jail while the case was pending. The defendant was held without bond after the State pursued denial of pretrial release under a special statute for serious violent crimes. The State established at a pretrial hearing that conditions of release would not adequately protect members of the community from serious bodily harm or prevent the intimidation of witnesses. Following the trial convictions, the Court ordered the defendant remanded to the custody of the Portage County Sheriff’s Office pending sentencing.
The defendant has pending cases in Portage County for two separate instances resulting in charges of Battery by an Inmate, and a pending case in Wood County for Sexual Assault of a Child and Incest. These matters have not yet proceeded to trial and the defendant retains his presumption of innocence until and unless these charges are proven beyond a reasonable doubt at trial.
Portage County District Attorney Cass Cousins stated: “This prosecution was the result of outstanding investigation by the Grand Rapids Police Department and the Portage County Sheriff’s Office, as well as tremendous courage from the victim to come forward and disclose the abuse she sustained at the defendant’s hands. This outcome shows the capability of investigators to detect and arrest these types of offenders, and provides assurance to the community that individuals who sexually assault children and will be prosecuted to the fullest possible extent.”