Man allegedly assaulted girl at Elkhorn residence on multiple occasions
By Kellen Olshefski
SLN Staff
A 32-year-old Elkhorn man pleaded not guilty during a preliminary hearing last week to Class A felony charges for allegedly sexually assaulting a child on multiple occasions.
Simon E. Jeninga was charged Feb. 26 in Walworth County Circuit Court with one count of repeated sexual assault of a child. Jeninga faces up to a life sentence if convicted.
Jeninga appeared in person, in custody at the March 3 hearing. A $10,000 cash-bond was set for Jeninga on Feb. 19.
City of Elkhorn Police Department Det. Thomas Bushey confirmed during the March 3 hearing that he watched a forensic interview conducted by Paula Hocking of the Walworth County Children’s Advocacy Center on Feb. 18.
According to the criminal complaint, the child told Hocking Jeninga would allegedly put her on his lap and shake her at a residence in Elkhorn. The girl told Hocking she could feel the man’s penis rubbing against her and that Jeninga would become sexually aroused, the complaint states.
According to the complaint, the girl said she would try to wiggle away, but Jeninga would grab her by her hips harder and keep her from getting off his lap.
The complaint states the girl told Hocking the incidents allegedly occurred once on a couch in the living room and four times on a bed. According to the complaint, the girl said it happened twice in December 2015, once before and after Christmas, and previously in June or July of that year.
Outside of watching the forensic interview, Bushey said he also spoke with the victim and her mother, as well as Jeninga.
According to Bushey, the child said Jeninga would allegedly “make funny noises and breathe harder,” during the incidents.
During the forensic interview, according to the complaint, the child demonstrated the incidents with the use of dolls. Bushey said the girl doll remained fully clothed during the demonstration.
According to Bushey, Jeninga was cooperative, though denied the incidents. The complaint states the child’s mother confronted Jeninga about the incidents following the forensic interview, at which time he told her he was “being playful and silly,” and that “it had not happened recently.”
Prosecutor Haley Johnson requested a speedy trial on behalf of the victim.
A status conference has been set for 1:15 p.m. on March 11 before Walworth County Circuit Court Judge David Reddy.
