Teen whose jail emails led to charges pleads guilty to assault

Authorities learned of relationship with younger girl in message exchange
By 
BILL SCHANEN IV
Ozaukee Press Staff

A Saukville teenager whose relationship with a younger girl was discovered in emails he sent using his high school account while in the Ozaukee County jail pleaded guilty last week to one felony count of second-degree sexual assault of a child.

Alexander L. Kanios, now 19, was in jail awaiting trial on a felony charge of showing a pornographic image to a 13-year-old boy when Port Washington High School officials discovered in November an email exchange between him and a girl. In those emails, the girl referred to the fact she believed she was pregnant and Kanios urged her not to keep the baby, according to court records. 

In December, Kanios was charged with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child for having sex with the girl in September when he was 18 and she was 15.

In exchange for his guilty plea to one of those charges, the other sexual assault charge and the exposing a child to harmful material charge were dismissed during a Thursday, April 12, hearing.

Ozaukee County District Attorney Adam Gerol recommended Kanios be sentenced to five years in prison followed by five years of extended supervision but that the sentence be stayed and he be placed on probation for 10 years. That means Kanios would not have to serve the prison sentence unless he violates the conditions of his probation, which under Gerol’s recommendation would include serving eight months in the county jail and not having contact with victim or anyone younger than 18.

 Both Gerol and Kanios’ attorney, Robert Buckett, told Judge Sandy Williams they were ready to proceed with the sentencing at least week’s hearing, but Williams delayed it until a presentence investigation could be conducted by the Department of Corrections.

 That apparently concerned Buckett, who asked Williams to order that the presentence report not include a sentencing recommendation.

“You can ask for that, but I’m not going to order it,” Williams said. 

The sexual assault Kanios is guilty of is punishable by a maximum 25 years in prison and 15 years of extended supervision.

Kanios has been held in jail in lieu of $25,000 bail since he was arrested in October on the exposing a child to harmful material charge.

While behind bars, Kanios was taking classes and had access to a computer and email, which he used to communicate with the girl.

In response to an email in which the girl suggested she was pregnant, Kanios wrote, “It is with high regret that I say this ... I don’t think it is a good idea to keep the baby. If the police find out I am the father, they could keep me in jail or worse send me to prison .... I know you love the baby, but do you want your other baby in prison?” according to the complaint.

The girl, now 16, told a police officer that she and Kanios had sex in Port Washington on Sept. 25 and Sept. 26.

 That was about the same time Kanios allegedly showed a pornographic image to the 13-year-old boy, according to the complaint in that case. Although this charge was dismissed last week, it was read into the record, which means Williams can consider it when sentencing Kanios for sexual assault.

The boy, who spoke with an officer and later participated in a forensic interview, said he began watching pornography after Kanios showed him several photos on his cell phone, at least one of which was pornographic, while walking to a friend’s house, according to the complaint.

 he boy said he took note of the website the photos were from and later found it on his own.

When confronted by police, Kanios said the boy watched a video Kanios had on his phone of a 19-year-old Kanios described as his ex-girlfriend doing a strip tease, the complaint states.   

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Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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