RACINE, Wis. — Griffin D. Bollendorf, 27, of Bristol, was found guilty Friday of second-degree sexual assault causing injury, a Class C felony. The Racine County jury deliberated for less than two and a half hours before returning the verdict.

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Circuit Court Judge Jon Fredrickson ordered Bollendorf taken into custody immediately after the verdict. He had been out on $10,000 cash bail since charges were filed in November 2023.

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The conviction stems from a May 2023 assault in Burlington, where Bollendorf sexually assaulted a woman while she was asleep. According to the criminal complaint, she awoke to find Bollendorf on top of her, with his hand on her throat, and he spit in her face during the assault. A forensic nurse documented lacerations, abrasions, and other injuries consistent with her account.

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Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson, a Democrat, did not initially file charges in the case. It wasn’t until Kenosha County Eye pressed her office for an explanation that charges were finally issued.

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Assistant District Attorney Jennifer Flynn, who led the prosecution, tried the case as her final jury trial. Several of her colleagues attended the proceedings in support. In her closing arguments, Flynn emphasized the strength of the corroborating evidence, including DNA, medical documentation, and text messages, urging the jury to apply common sense and consider why a victim would endure such a difficult process if the story weren’t true.

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Defense attorney Natalie Wisco argued that the state had not met its high burden of proof and reminded jurors that someone accused of a crime is not required to prove their innocence. She pointed out that in this system, a person can testify falsely and face no legal consequence unless proven otherwise. Wisco challenged the state’s interpretation of Bollendorf’s text messages, suggesting instead that they reflected the emotions of someone falsely accused. She also noted that certain messages were taken out of context and that jurors had not seen the full conversations. Wisco told the jury, “It’s their job to prove to you why—not mine. And if you feel like the state hasn’t proven that to you, then that is reasonable doubt.”

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In the courtroom, observers said Bollendorf showed no facial reaction as the verdict was read.

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Kenosha County Eye spoke with the victim after the trial. She said, “Jennifer worked really hard on this case and she was really fantastic. I feel a little safer that he’s behind bars.” She added that Judge Fredrickson had been “very fair and kind to everyone in the courtroom.” She also wished Flynn a happy retirement and said Racine County was losing a great attorney.

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Sentencing is scheduled for August 29 at 1:30 p.m. Bollendorf faces up to 40 years—20 years of initial confinement followed by 20 years of extended supervision.

He still faces unrelated felony charges in Menominee County for allegedly fleeing police while intoxicated on October 1, 2023. In that case, he posted $2,500 cash bail and has yet to stand trial. The pending charges include attempting to flee or elude an officer and OWI–2nd offense. Bollendorf also has a prior OWI conviction in Illinois from 2021.

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