Kenneth Kratz, district attorney in Calumet County, Wisconsin, sent sexually suggestive texts to a domestic abuse victim last year, during the time he was prosecuting her case against her ex-boyfriend.
Kratz was handling the case of Stephanie Van Groll, 26, in October 2009, after she accused her ex-boyfriend of nearly choking her to death. Van Groll complained that in a two-day span, Kratz sent her “20-plus” texts attempting to start an affair with her. One of the texts said: “Are u the kind of girl that likes secret contact with an older married elected DA…the riskier the better? Or do you want to stop right now before any issues?”
Kratz handed over the case once Van Groll made the complaint, and has since resigned his position on the Wisconsin Crime Victims’ Rights Board. Reportedly, he resisted at first, and tried to avoid “public disclosure” of the case, according to Channel 3000 News.
Here are some of the text messages, taken from the police report obtained by TPM:
It was nice talking with you! Feel free to text me (between 8 and 4) if you are bored. You have such potential. See ya. KEN (your favorite DA).
I need direction from you. Yes you are a risk taker and can keep your mouth shut and you think this is fun or you think a man twice your age is creepy so stop.
If you are not worth that kind of passion, we’ll know it right away. For now I’m just suggesting we find out. Its either perfect or I’m not going to do it.
Hey…Miss Communication, what’s the sticking point? Your low self-esteem and you fear you can’t successfully play in my big sandbox? Or???
Im serious! Im the atty. I have the $350,000 house. I have the 6-figure career. You may be the tall, young, hot nymph, but I am the prize! Start convincing
Finally an opinion. I would not expect you to be the other woman. I would want you to be so hot and treat me so well that you’d be THE woman! R U that good?
In a statement on Wednesday, Kratz defended his texts, saying he “made it clear that any personal friendship that would develop would be after the prosecution was concluded. The messages were concluded by reminding the young women that it was her decision whether any future friendship would develop. No personal contact ever occurred with the woman other than one professional meeting.”
Kratz is not expected to be charged, and will keep his position until at least 2012 when he is up for reeleciton, according to CBS News.
Jillian Rayfield
Jillian Rayfield is a Reporter/Blogger for TPM, and started as a News Intern in May 2009. She graduated from Cornell University in May 2008 with a degree in Film, and worked as a Research Assistant for a market research firm in London in between.
Facebook Conversations
Questions about commenting with non-Facebook accounts like Yahoo, or other concerns? Click here to read the TPM Commenting FAQ.