By Jacob Mathias

A Madison man who allegedly touched a woman’s breast and pubic region while she slept now faces sexual assault charges in Portage County.

Stevens Point police were called to a residence on Michigan Ave. at about 5 AM on Sept. 2 after a caller reported a sexual assault. The suspect, 19-year-old Drew Maier, had already left the scene by the time of call, reportedly travelling by foot west on Clark Street.

A woman in the home told officers she’d seen the suspect, her boyfriend who’d been staying at her house, “fondle” another woman, 19, while she was sleeping on the living room floor.

The woman told police she, Maier, the victim and another man had been up until about 4:00 AM watching a movie and then went to sleep. The caller said she’d been unable to sleep and went outside to smoke a cigarette. She also said she believed the defendant had not been asleep and looked into a window to check.

When she looked in, she reports seeing Maier touch the girl’s breast and pubic area. When she knocked on the window to protest, Maier came outside saying, “I know I have a problem and I need help.”

Maier asked his girlfriend not to tell anyone what happened. An argument ensued and Maier left, walking west Clark Street.

When officers spoke with the alleged victim she said she was asleep during the incident and was not aware Maier had touched her. She also reported she did not give Maier consent to do so.

Officers found Maier walking at about 5:15 AM. He told the officer he’d been kicked out of the house for touching his “ex-girlfriend’s friend” inappropriately but would not elaborate on what exactly happened.

Maier was placed under arrest and searched; police found a glass pipe and smoking bowl used for marijuana, along with a baggy testing positive for the presence of THC.

Maier makes his initial appearance in Portage Co. Circuit Court on Sept. 19 at 1:30 PM for a felony charge of second degree sexual assault. If convicted he could see a maximum sentence of a $100,000 fine, 40 years imprisonment or both. He also faces a misdemeanor charge for possession of drug paraphernalia carries a maximum sentence of a $500 fine, 90 days imprisonment or both.

As he was free on bond for charges of possession of amphetamine in Dane Co. at the time of the alleged assault, Maier is also charged with misdemeanor bail-jumping, which carries a maximum of a $10,000 fine, nine months imprisonment or both.

Maier is currently free on a $1,000 signature bond.