Marion man charged with third-degree sexual assault

A 41-year-old Marion man is facing one felony count of third-degree sexual assault in relation to a July 7 incident in Shawano.

Cory Barnick faces up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine if convicted.

Barnick was charged July 18 in Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court, where Judge Katherine Sloma set a $25,000 signature bond. A preliminary hearing for Barnick is scheduled for Sept. 14.

The criminal complaint states that an off-duty deputy was notified of a reported rape around 10:30 p.m. July 7 at Shawano Lake County Park. A witness told the deputy the victim was camping and drinking alcohol, then entered a pop-up style camper and fell asleep. The witness alleged that Barnick entered the camper and that a short time later could hear “sexual noises” and that the camper was “rocking.” The party who made the call to law enforcement stated that the victim woke up naked and had pain in her vaginal area.

The criminal complaint stated that the victim did not remember much from the incident other than seeing Barnick standing over her. The complaint also states that the victim did not give permission for Barnick to touch her.

The victim was brought to St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay. When she was interviewed at the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, the victim said she and another person traveled to Clintonville on July 7, when the truck that they were driving “blew its transmission,” and her father brought her back to the campground, the complaint said. The victim stated that after 4 p.m. she didn’t have memory of what happened and believed that she “blacked out.”

The criminal complaint continued that the victim was allegedly told she returned to her camper to get a vaping device. She stated that her next memory was Barnick kneeling over her and not wearing a shirt. A witness alleged that the victim had six or seven alcohol drinks when she was with them on July 7.

The victim stated that she talked to another witness after the incident who told her that she could hear the victim tell Barnick “no” and “to stop.” The victim stated that that witness had allegedly entered the camper and told Barnick that he needed to leave.

The victim alleged that in her past experiences with Barnick, that they have been neighbors for approximately 5½ years and never had consensual sexual contact. She stated that he has asked to sleep over at her residence and flirts with her, to which she allegedly responds for him to go home to his wife.

Barnick said the intercourse was consensual during a July 15 interview, the complaint said. He also stated that he did not believe the victim was impaired and that if he thought she was, he would not have sex with her.

Conditions of Barnick’s bond include that he have no contact with the alleged victim.

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com