Wood County Court Commits Roland Rupnick To Treatment Under Chapter 980

MADISON - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that Roland Rupnick, DOB  07/20/1968, a Wood County resident, was found to be a sexually violent person under Wisconsin's civil commitment law (Chapter 980, Wis. Stats.) following a two-day court trial in Stevens Point.  Portage County Circuit Court Judge John Vincent Finn presided over the case.

Chapter 980 of the Wisconsin Statutes relates to the control, care and treatment of sexually violent persons. Under Wisconsin 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 or she 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 and Family Services for control, care, and treatment until the person is no longer considered sexually violent.

According to the petition, Rupnick was most recently sentenced in 1996 in Wood County Circuit Court of first degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 years to a term of 10 years in prison consecutive to sentences previously imposed for other offenses (Wood County 1996CF49). He has previous convictions in Clark County (87CF4) for first degree sexual assault and Wood County (93CF15) for first degree sexual assault of a child. Mr. Rupnick had a scheduled release date of May 7, 2008.

Rupnick has now been committed to the custody of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services for care and control and is expected to be housed at the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center in Mauston, Wisconsin, for the purpose of receiving treatment.

Assistant Attorney General Donald Latorraca represents the state in this case.