GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Formal charges have been filed against the 53-year-old Green Bay man suspected of sexually assaulting multiple horses.
Sterling Rachwal faces misdemeanor counts of Intentionally Mistreating Animals, Disorderly Conduct, and Resisting/Obstructing an Officer, in connection with an alleged February 17 Brown County incident.
Officers responded to a ranch in the Town of Eaton for a suspicious person complaint, after the horse’s owner said she saw someone leaving the barn.
Police found the horse inside that barn was bleeding.
Since he has previous convinctions similar to the crime committed, investigators interviewed Rachwal.
He denied that assault, as well as ever assaulting a horse.
Rachwal claims the story is a conspiracy created by his sister and a veterinarian.
Investigators say footprints found near the barn match a boot found in Rachwal’s apartment.
Following an April 29 incident where a horse was sexually assaulted, officers again interviewed Rachwal.
“Sterling again said it could be him, it looks similar, but he is not saying it is him,” the criminal complaint states.
At one point he reportedly added, “You do realize if I go away I’m going away for life” and that he was trying to ‘straighten up his life.’
Rachwal is suspected in the April incident but has not been charged in Manitowoc County court.
