Kenosha, Wis. – A Florida man accused of repeated sexual assault of a child appeared in a Kenosha County courtroom on Friday after skipping a prior hearing earlier this month.

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Frank A. Sadewater, 60, of Clearwater, FL, had initially been out on a $15,000 bail, but after failing to appear in court on February 3, Judge Anthony Milisauskas ordered the bail forfeited. In Todays hearing, Kenosha County Circuit Court Commissioner William Michel II set Sadewater’s new bail at $50,000 cash.

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Sadewater was first charged on December 28, 2021, with Repeated Sexual Assault of the Same Child (At Least Three Violations of First-Degree Sexual Assault). The alleged offenses, which date back to 2011-2015, involve a victim who came forward years later to report ongoing abuse that occurred when she was a child.

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Background of the Case

According to the criminal complaint, the victim, identified as “Alice,” made a delayed report to the Delavan Police Department in April 2021. Due to a conflict of interest, the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department took over the investigation. Alice, who was 18 at the time of her report, alleged that Sadewater—her mother’s former boyfriend—sexually abused her over multiple years, beginning when she was in third grade.

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The victim stated that the abuse took place at a residence in Delavan, WI, where Sadewater had moved in with her mother. She described multiple instances of inappropriate conduct, including unwanted physical contact and coercion, which continued until she was in seventh grade. The complaint also alleges that Sadewater manipulated her into silence by telling her she would cause her mother emotional pain if she spoke out.

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Alice disclosed the abuse to her mother when she was a high school sophomore, but her mother initially did not take action against Sadewater. Years later, upon hearing additional details from Alice, the victim’s mother ended the relationship with Sadewater and assisted law enforcement by providing electronic devices he had left behind.

Legal Proceedings

Sadewater was scheduled for trial once before, but the proceedings were delayed. His current court date, a status conference, is set for March 20, 2025.

The case, originating in Walworth County, WI, is being prosecuted by the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office as a special prosecution. The alleged victim was in court today and addressed the court. She expressed frustration for the delays and wants to see justice soon.

If convicted, Sadewater could spend up to 60 years in prison under Wisconsin law.