Man sentenced to life in prison

STEVENS POINT – Portage County District Attorney Cass Cousins announced that a Wisconsin Rapids man was sentenced to prison after having been convicted of Second Degree Sexual Assault as a Persistent Repeater and Incest with a Child as a Persistent Repeater.
Cory Wille, 46, was sentenced by Portage County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Baker on Aug. 7 to a life sentence without the possibility a parole. Wille had previously been convicted by a Portage County Jury during a trial taking place on April 15 and 16. Wille qualified as a persistent repeater because he previously had been convicted of two serious child sex offenses.
At the sentencing hearing, the Judge noted the defendant’s criminal history not only included multiple prior child sex offenses but also felony battery and felony reckless child abuse. Judge Baker also reflected on the testimony of the child victim during the jury trial, describing it as “heart breaking” to listen to.
The defendant had two separate charges of Battery by Inmate read in at the time of sentencing. These charges related to separate instances in which the defendant assaulted other inmates while in the custody of the Portage County Jail awaiting trial.
The defendant has pending charges for Sexual Assault of a Child and Incest in Wood County. He continues to enjoy the presumption of innocence for these charges, until and unless they are proven a jury trial.
Portage County District Attorney Cass Cousins stated, “This prosecution was the result of outstanding investigation by Wisconsin Rapids Police Department and tremendous courage from the victim to come forward and disclosed the abuse she sustained at the defendant’s hands. This defendant has repeatedly abused and hurt others people, including children, throughout his whole life – his sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole ensures that he will not victimize any other children ever again.”