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Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025

Did Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Susan Crawford sentence a child sex offender to four years after a prosecutor requested 10?

Tom Kertscher / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch
yes

In 2020, Dane County Judge Susan Crawford sentenced Kevin D. Welton to four years in prison after a prosecutor requested 10.

Welton was charged with touching a 6-year-old girl’s privates in a club swimming pool in 2010 and with twice touching a 7-year-old girl’s privates in the same pool on one day in 2018.

Welton was convicted of three felonies, including first-degree sexual contact.

Crawford and Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel are running in the April 1 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.

An ad from an Elon Musk–funded group said Crawford could have imposed 100 years.

A 100-year maximum was allowed, but highly unlikely, given the prosecutor’s request. Welton’s lawyer requested probation.

Crawford said the crimes occurring years apart made Welton a repeat offender, requiring prison, but were less serious than other sexual assaults, and 10 years was longer than needed for rehabilitation.

Welton’s appeals failed. Released in January 2024, he is on extended supervision until 2030.

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