GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Cash bond has been set at $5,000 for a 53-year-old man accused of assaulting two horses.
Sterling Rachwal has not been formally charged, but he is being held in the Brown County Jail on five counts: two apiece of Mistreatment of Animals Causing Death and Sexual Gratification with an Animal and one of Burglary.
In a Brown County courtroom Wednesday afternoon, prosecutors said they have proof Rachwal sexually assaulted horses at KJ Ranch in the Town of Eaton in mid-February and in Maribel last Saturday.
When the KJ Ranch’s owner contacted police with concerns that a horse was molested, deputies suspected and questioned Rachwal.
Prosecutors say they obtained a search warrant and installed GPS tracking on Rachwal’s vehicle, without his knowledge.
Rachwal allegedly made multiple trips to a barn in Maribel, near the Brown-Manitowoc county line.
Officers later installed cameras in the barn, which prosecutors say captured Saturday’s assault.
The Maribel horse’s owner, Jackie Miller, says “my horse really hasn’t been the same since. He certainly is skittish now. He’s doing ok, but you can tell he’s still like pretty weary when you’re walking about him or when he’s tied in his stall because he was tied.”
Prosecutors say their evidence also includes boots found at Rachwal’s apartment that match footprints found outside the Eaton ranch in February.
They claim Rachwal has denied all allegations, despite visual proof.
Brown County charges are expected next week, and Rachwal could also face charges in Manitowoc County for the alleged Maribel incident.
Rachwal has been convicted several times across the state for incidents with animals, often horses.
Those cases include:
In 1993 in Monroe County, he was convicted of three counts, including sexual gratification with an animal and mistreatment of animals causing death. He was sentenced to an eight-year prison term.
In 1996 in Waupaca County, he was convicted of four counts, including mistreating animals – but was declared not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
In 2010 in Fond du Lac County, he was convicted of disorderly conduct and sentenced to 90 days in jail. In that incident, he was found in a horse barn.
