Wis. crime victims board says ’sexting’ DA, its former chairman, wasn’t candid about texts

Wis. crime victims board says DA wasn’t ‘candid’

MADISON, Wis. — A board meant to protect crime victims defended itself Wednesday for failing to act against its former chairman, who resigned after sending sexually harassing text messages to a domestic abuse victim.

The Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Board acknowledged that Ken Kratz gave members information last December about text messages he sent Stephanie Van Groll while prosecuting her ex-boyfriend for attacking her.

But the board said Kratz did not give a detailed description of the texts, characterized the messages as being of a mutually friendly nature, and said he was interested in pursuing a friendship with Van Groll. The board, which has come under fire for not taking action against Kratz, said it could not investigate further under state law based on the information.

“In light of what is now known about the conduct that ultimately led to Mr. Kratz’s resignation … it is clear Mr. Kratz was not candid with members concerning the circumstances surrounding his resignation,” the board said in a statement.

That contradicts Kratz’s statement to legal regulators last year that he “candidly described” his behavior to the board.

The texts included messages calling Van Groll a “tall young, hot nymph,” asking whether she wanted to have “secret contact with an older married elected DA,” and saying she’d make a great young partner one day.

Van Groll, 26, complained to police about harassment after receiving 30 texts from Kratz in three days. She said she felt pressured to have a relationship with him and worried that he would drop the strangulation charge against her ex-boyfriend if she did not.

Kratz has been the district attorney in Calumet County since 1992, but his attorney said Monday he plans to resign by Oct. 8. Since The Associated Press reported Van Groll’s case, several other women have come forward to accuse Kratz of abusing his power to seek relationships with them. Gov. Jim Doyle has begun the process to remove him from office.

Kratz had resigned from the crime victims panel in December under pressure from state Department of Justice officials, who had learned about the text messages and said they compromised his position.

When he stepped down from the board, Kratz gave the information about the texts to other board members in a closed session. He then told the Office of Lawyer Regulation the next day that he candidly described what happened to the board and resigned in disgrace.

The lawyer regulation office closed the case against Kratz in March without a formal review, saying the text messages were inappropriate but did not amount to misconduct. Facing a barrage of criticism, that office last week reopened its investigation into Kratz.

Kratz had been the leader of the crime victims board since 1998, when lawmakers created it to enforce crime victims’ rights like being able to testify at sentencing hearings and being notified of key developments. In general, crime victims are supposed to be treated with dignity and respect under state law.

Kratz has bragged about helping draft the legislation, saying he “wrote the law on crime victims in Wisconsin” and dedicated his 25-year career to them. The board has the power to sanction judges, prosecutors and others who violate their rights.

The board said it didn’t take any further action last year because it never received a complaint from Van Groll. Even if it had, the board said it does not have the power to consider complaints from crime victims related to sexual harassment or gender discrimination — two legal claims that Van Groll may have.

Van Groll’s attorney, Michael Fox, said the board was either misinterpreting its statutory mandate to protect crime victims or “there is a conspicuous hole in that mandate.”

“Unfortunately, this board is a bit of an island, as is the Office of Lawyer Regulation, which also suggested that sexual entreaties to a victim wasn’t a violation,” he said. “We’ve now had both of those bodies weighing in saying, ‘This isn’t our business’.”

The board issued its statement after meeting for 100 minutes in a closed session Wednesday, saying Kratz’s claim “may erode the public trust” in the board if not corrected. Board members had provided few answers about its handling of Kratz to reporters during a contentious meeting last week.

“The CVRB assures crime victims that it will continue to treat crime victims who come before it with dignity, respect, courtesy, and sensitivity,” the statement said.