Brian Threlkeld Committed For Sex Offender Treatment

KENOSHA - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that Brian Threlkeld appeared in court this afternoon and admitted to the allegations contained in a petition previously filed by the Department of Justice that sought to commit Threlkeld for treatment as a sexually violent person.

Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Anthony G. Milisauskas, who presided over today's hearing, accepted Threlkeld's admission and ordered him committed to the Department of Health as a sexually violent person.

Under Wisconsin's sexually violent person law, a person may be subject to a civil commitment when the person has been convicted of a sexually violent offense, has a mental disorder, and is dangerous to others because the mental disorder makes it likely he will commit further acts of sexual violence.  A civil commitment is defined in Wisconsin law as commitment to the custody and care of the Department of Health Services for control, care and treatment until the person is no longer considered sexually violent. 

According to the Department of Justice's petition, which was filed on September 18, 2008, Threlkeld was convicted by the Kenosha County circuit court in 2000 of second degree sexual assault of a 13-year old boy.  The petition alleged that Threlkeld has sexually assaulted other young boys in Wisconsin and elsewhere.  The petition further alleged that Threlkeld suffers from a mental condition that predisposes him to engage in acts of sexual violence and that he is dangerous to others because his mental disorder makes it likely that he will engage in future acts of sexual violence.

At a hearing held on October 2, 2008, Judge Milisauskas previously found probable cause to believe Brian Threlkeld meets the criteria for commitment as a sexually violent person under Chapter 980 and that Threlkeld should be held for trial.  Threlkeld's admission in court today means that no trial is necessary.

Assistant Attorney General Paul L. Barnett represented the state.