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Crime & Safety

Port Man Charged with Sexually Assaulting 5-Year-Old Girl

Suspect allegedly assaulted child on two occasions in November and took pornographic images of the victim at his home.

A 35-year-old Port Washington man is facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 5-year-old girl twice and then took pornographic photos of the victim.

James R. Esselman, 216 W. Jackson St., was charged Wednesday in Ozaukee County Circuit Court with two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child under 12 years old and five counts of possession of child pornography.

If convicted, he faces up to 245 years in prison and $500,000 in fines.

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According to the criminal complaint:

Esselman had intercourse with the girl on two occasions in November at his residence while babysitting the child. The incidents came to light on Jan. 21 after the victim told Esselman's mother they had played "boy butt and girl butt," and explained how the game made her cry. She then confronted her son about the allegation and Esselman admitted to it, but said he had only molested the girl once.

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When police then interviewed Esselman, he admitted to sexually assaulting the girl twice and making the girl pose for sexually explicit photos, some of which he would make her wear a diaper while exposing her chest.

Esselman is being held in county jail on $100,000 bond, and is set to appear in court at 10 a.m. Feb. 6 for a status conference.

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