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Man Accused of Physically Abusing Woman for Days

Waukesha man living on White Rock Avenue punched, kicked and sexually assaulted woman at his apartment, criminal complaint alleges.

A 44-year-old Waukesha man is facing allegations that he spent the past week kicking, punching, fondling and sexually assaulting a woman he lived with in a White Rock Avenue apartment.

Police were notified about a possible domestic disturbance on Friday by the Waukesha County Mental Health Department, which prompted the investigation at the apartment.

Steven L. Wagner is charged with third-degree sexual assault-domestic abuse, felony intimidation of a victim-domestic abuse, two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault-domestic abuse and two counts of battery-domestic abuse. He faces up to 23 years in prison, if convicted of the charges.

Bail was set Monday at $500.

According to the complaint filed Monday in Waukesha Circuit Court:

Officers arrived to the apartment to find a crying woman, who had substantial bruising on her arms. She told officers she was punched several times by Wagner, who stole her money.

The woman told police Wagner had physically hurt her several times since Sept. 23. The first incident started when Wagner was intoxicated and demanded money from her. The woman told police Wagner broke her cell phone in half when she tried to contact police.

On Tuesday, Wagner fondled the woman with his foot and then kicked her in the face, she told officers. A neighbor later told police he saw Wagner kick the woman in the face.

On Wednesday, Wagner again fondled her and then forcibly had sex with her, despite her trying to push him away.

Zigman October 2, 2012 at 11:55 am
It's plain to see that Johnny has no clue what an abusive relationship can do to someone, both physically and mentally. Try talking to someone who suffered thru that before finally getting the help they needed. Talk to them about the mental abuse they received before the physical abuse started. See what makes someone become a mental prisoner and why it is hard for them to escape, THEN come dazzle us with more of your incredible wisdom. Johnny, it is better to be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Louise October 2, 2012 at 12:14 pm
What a horribly hateful thing to say. You have no details about this woman or the situation yet you make ASSumtions. There is no such thing as a willing victim. No one deserves to be raped and beaten. What an ignorant thing to say.
John Huenink October 2, 2012 at 12:21 pm
How on earth could they have only set $500 bail on something like this? The judge must share Johnny's views on the matter.
Erin Hardy October 2, 2012 at 01:14 pm
The story indicates she DID try to call the police; however, Wagner broke her phone. That would be one indication that she wasn't willing. Other indicators include the "substantial" bruising, the initial contact of the police department by the WCMHC, and an individual witnessing her being kicked in the face. No abuse or assault survivors are willing participants. If the above comment held ANY merit, it would then follow that children in abusive homes are willing for just one example! Johnny, I have read other comments you have posted. I wonder if these are truly your beliefs or if you are purposely attempting to antagonize others.
With that said, my original reason for posting was to express my disbelieg at the $500 bail that has left me shaking my head!
Erin Hardy October 2, 2012 at 01:17 pm
*disbelief
Kathie Giorgio October 2, 2012 at 04:12 pm
Dear Johnny,
It is hard to believe that this kind of ignorance is still present in our world today. October is Domestic Abuse Month, the month when our own Waukesha Women's Center places haunting purple female silhouettes, their dates of death emblazoned on their chests, out for all to see and remember. I challenge you to, for once, stand physically behind your words. Tell us when you will go to the Women's Center and stand there among those silhouettes, with your archaic and impossible beliefs, and allow us, the women and men who are horrified by you, to stand there, across the street, and see you. Not to hurt you in any way, not to attack you, not to do anything but to stand there and have a chance to see the actual face of true ignorance. Should you actually be brave enough to do this, should you actually stand behind your words and not just be writing them to create attention and turmoil, I encourage the media to be there. It's something the world needs to see.
Sarah Millard (Editor) October 2, 2012 at 04:17 pm
I've deleted some of Johnny's comments. Johnny, I suggest you start considering some of the things that you are saying about alleged victims of crimes. I frequently see you commenting and essentially standing up for the accused. Please clean up your act and post appropriate comments.
@-;-'---- Rose October 2, 2012 at 04:22 pm
Been there did that dept....The neighbor couple heard him yelling, "We don't have friends because nobody likes YOU!" They got me alone and told me: We all hear his verbal and physical abuse... everyone just loves YOU... they can't stand HIM! I finally found a way to put 3,000 miles between us.
Kathie Giorgio October 2, 2012 at 05:10 pm
Johnny, read the article more closely. The woman did not "go into someone else's apartment and get into some violent confrontation and then stay for four days." She lived there. $500 bail in domestic abuse cases is actually standard, which is more a reflection of the legal system than it is of "there's more going on here than meets the eye."
Again, I hope you decide to physically stand behind your words. Come out and stand with the silhouettes. Show the world that you really believe what you say, that you truly are "disagreeing with popular opinion," and not just striving to put yourself at the center of attention. It's one thing to post words anonymously. It's another to stand up for them. Let us know when.
Kathie Giorgio October 2, 2012 at 05:45 pm
Could be because it's a women's shelter.
Victoria Hekkers October 2, 2012 at 06:06 pm
LOL Kathie! Good one..
Erin Hardy October 2, 2012 at 06:24 pm
Johnny, I was not nearly suggesting she has the mind of a child. My point is, as someone who works with trauma survivors (men and women), there isn't willingness. Unfortunately, there are circumstances that make it safer for an individual to stay in an abusive situation. I can think of people who have experienced a one-time assault, and not taking action saved their lives. In either case this is not stupidity nor is it weakness. I see it as quite the opposite; it is survival. I have yet to see someone express entitlement because of their experience-meaning there is not any expectation of being bowed down to or admired. A book, such as The Courage to Heal, can help in gaining an understanding of the dynamics of sexual abuse/assault. It provides a different perspective that, perhaps, would be thought provoking.
Kathie Giorgio October 2, 2012 at 07:20 pm
Johnny, did you know that the Women's Center has helped abused men? They don't block anyone, and there are indeed cases where men have been abused, by women and by other men. It is, however, The Women's Center, and statistically, more women are abused than men. Hence the female silhouettes.
I didn't invite you to stay there, unless, of course, you're an abused male. But in your comments, you stated that you've never been "stupid enough to get into an abusive relationship." I am asking that you stand among the silhouettes, that symbolize the passing of women through abuse, and state your belief, out loud and into the faces of others gathered there, that you believe that a woman in an abuse situation is a "willing victim." Say it out loud, in public, and not hidden behind an anonymous name. Our beliefs and our words stand for nothing if we don't stand behind them. Let's see you stand. If you truly believe this, then I challenge you to do it.
Tracy Craft October 2, 2012 at 07:24 pm
I had a neighbor once who tried to call the cops on her husband/boyfriend ( I can't remember if they were married or not.) It ended up that my other neighbor called the police once when he was cussing her out and I called once. The police never did anything. I reminded her that there was a woman's shelter but she didn't want to leave because of her child. (I think she might have feared how she would take care of her child when he was the one that was supporting them.) It ended up that my landlord kicked them out because of the disturbance that they were causing.
Kathie Giorgio October 2, 2012 at 08:24 pm
I'm responding to a comment up above, where Johnny says, "And do you work for this women's center? My ex-wife made some false abuse claims against me once, and after she retracted them she said that someone from your women's center had coached her on how to lie and bend the truth to get her way in the divorce. They even went so far as to tell her to exaggerate my height by 4 inches and my weight by 60lbs in the report since an honest representation of my size compared to hers didn't make me seem scary enough. I would go so far as to say that many of you at that center have now become the monsters you had once tried to overcome.
I really don't think you understand the damage you do to your own cause by allowing those type of situations to continue-- or worse yet encouraging it. False abuse claims are in epidemic proportions right now, and refusing to acknowledge it only creates more victims." No, I don't work for the Women's Center. I stand by their cause to stop violence against women, children, AND men. Interesting, Johnny, that your ex-wife went there for help. I'm sorry, but because you hide behind anonymity, I don't believe your claims against the Women's Center. There's no strength in hiding.
Kathie Giorgio October 2, 2012 at 08:26 pm
(I've received about six different emails now, by the way, with different versions of Johnny's comment. He adds, he subracts, he adds, he subtracts.)
Kathie Giorgio October 2, 2012 at 08:56 pm
And good luck to you in your hiding and anonymity, Johnny. As Thomas Jefferson said, "A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit."
Ruble's Conscience October 3, 2012 at 02:36 am
Johnny,
You are such a small and insignificant little man aren't you? To have to come to a formum like this just to get some type of contact with the outside world is really sad and I feel sorry for you.
Ruble's Conscience October 3, 2012 at 02:38 am
Not when comments cross the line and that is exactly what the small and insignificant usually do - hide behind a keyboard because they are too afraid to make comments like that in the open. Stand up for what you believe in but stand behind it.
Johnny Paycheck October 3, 2012 at 01:05 pm
@Militant Duck, that sounds more like a threat than anything constructive... I really don't see how you can see yourself as any different than the guy that's being accused in this story. Something I said offended you and now you're looking for some payback that goes beyond words.
Ruble's Conscience October 3, 2012 at 01:16 pm
Wow Johnny,
You took that as a threat? What a sad, insignificant little man you really are to percieve somtthing like that as a threat. I see myself as much more than you or the man that is being accused in this story. First, I don't go around beating up women which he clearly does. Second, I don't sit on a forum and argue with women because I am small and insignificant like you. Case closed.
Ruble's Conscience October 3, 2012 at 01:18 pm
Oh Johnny, just because mommy did not give you enough hugs when you were younger does not mean you have to take it out on the rest of the female population of this world. Which, from what I can see in most of these threads is what you do.
Johnny Paycheck October 3, 2012 at 01:34 pm
@Militant Duck, It seems that you are arguing on the forum right now... Or is it women that we're just not allowed to argue with? In any regard, yes I have doubts about this mans guilt-- or at least that he is as guilty as the article makes him look. If you don't like it that I have the right to express them then start a revolution... OR you can just keep calling me names if that makes you feel better.
Ruble's Conscience October 3, 2012 at 01:43 pm
I will take it that since you jump around on here so much that you just ignored this comment I made. "First, I don't go around beating up women which he clearly does. Second, I don't sit on a forum and argue with women because I am small and insignificant like you. Case closed".
Ruble's Conscience October 3, 2012 at 01:45 pm
I didn't call you any names Johnny. I just said you seem like a small, insignificant little man because all I have seen on here is you arguing with women. That seems to be a problem for you. Is it that you were abused at some point by a woman and now feel the need to lash out at all of them?
Johnny Paycheck October 3, 2012 at 03:28 pm
@Militant Duck, The women were angry with me for questioning the story and expressing doubts about this mans guilt. With that being said, what difference does it make if they're men or women? Are all not equal in your eyes?
Kathie Giorgio October 3, 2012 at 03:47 pm
Just to be clear, Johnny - I wasn't angry at your expressing doubts about the man's guilt. I was angry at your calling the woman a "willing victim." I believe that's what most of the women were upset over.
Johnny Paycheck October 3, 2012 at 04:12 pm
@Kathie, well I have to apologize for that then. I don't think that anyone would willingly make themselves a victim, so that was probably a poor way for me to express my doubts about what she was saying.
@-;-'---- Rose October 4, 2012 at 02:41 pm
I've never been one to hide behind anonymity....Boy, do my friends and family know THAT!! I only use it here to keep from embarrassing them. Anyway I don't want to be even remotely connected to Paycheck's lack of character.
Sarah Millard (Editor) October 9, 2012 at 06:16 pm
Just to clarify, The Women's Center also has a silhouette of a man killed in a domestic dispute.

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