Wisconsin State Trooper Charged With Sexual Assault of a Child
According to Wisconsin court records, Wisconsin State Trooper James Norquay has been charged with 3 counts of sexual assault of a child and felony incest. Tragically, the child was a 15-year-old girl placed in his home for foster care. Norquay is 48.
If convicted of all three counts, Norquay faces 120 years in state prison.
Sexual assaults are tragic no matter what the age of the victim or the occupation of the offender. This case is especially shocking because the victim was a foster child. Presumably, the child was removed from her original home by the state because conditions were unsafe. Little did anyone know how much worse things could be.
The case is also appalling because the alleged offender is a state trooper. We rely on law enforcement to keep us safe. Committing a crime while wearing a badge is an abusive of the public's trust and makes the job of all law enforcement that much more difficult.
If anything, this case is a reminder that people of any age or occupation can commit sex crimes. Last year Wisconsin was rocked by the misconduct of Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz. Today a trooper stands accused of raping his foster child.
Hopefully the prosecutor and court will not cut any slack to Norquay if guilty. Monsters that abuse kids should be removed from society. Ditto for those who commit violent crimes while wearing a badge.
In addition to the prosecution of Norquay, the state should review how this case was handled by the state child welfare system. According to press reports, the assaults took place over several years? Were they reported? Did the state provide adequate screening before placing the child in Norquay's home? Were there regular inspections by state officials or was she simply forgotten. Hopefully, we will all have answers to these questions soon.
Foster children have long been at increased risk. While most foster parents truly try to care for the kids in their homes, some seek foster parent status simply to have the opportunity to molest kids. And even more take the job simply as a way of collecting foster care payments from the state - in other words, they are motivated by the money, not the opportunity to do good.
The Norquay case is not isolated to Wisconsin. Every year, scores of foster parents and law enforcement officers are prosecuted for abusing kids. Many of these kids feel trapped and don't realize they have rights. It's hard to tell a relative what is happening to you when isolated from your family (assuming you even know your family). Many other kids fear that by coming forward, they will be removed to another home that may be worse. Kids do have rights, however, and should call police. Still not sure? Call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD. Calls are confidential.
About the Author
Brian Mahany is a lawyer at Mahany & Ertl, a national law firm assisting victims of sexual abuse and sexual abuse. Brian is a former prosecutor, director of the Family Violence Project and volunteer at the Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center. He can be reached through his lawfirm at http://www.wisconsindiscriminationlawyer.com Comments and questions are welcome.
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