Seymour man faces sex assault charges

A Seymour man is facing a second set of charges involving sexual assault two months after the first case was brought against him.

Jacob D. Rudnick, 29, is being charged with two counts of third-degree sexual assault and one count of second-degree sexual assault for an attack that allegedly took place in a park in the Town of Lessor on Halloween last year. The Seymour Police Department initially took the victim’s statement and collected evidence from her before handing it over to the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department.

Rudnick is facing another case involving a sexual assault that reportedly took place in July of this year in Lessor. In that case, he faces two counts of second-degree sexual assault.

Rudnick was free on a $100,000 cash bond from the July case when he was arrested Sept. 12 in Seymour. Shawano-Menominee County Circuit Court Judge Katherine Sloma assessed a $200,000 cash bond against Rudnick, even though the district attorney’s office requested a $1 million bond.

According to online court records, Rudnick remains in the Shawano County Jail.

Criminal complaints allege that both incidents occurred after Rudnick first encountered the victims online via Snapchat. The first victim told law enforcement a friend had been messaging a guy who “became freaky.” She said she talked with the guy whose screen name was “ccuddlebug” and that he “wanted to be friends.”

The victim told law enforcement that she rode with Rudnick to the park at 1 p.m. Oct. 31, 2022, according to the criminal complaint. She claimed that Rudnick forcibly attempted intercourse on a park trail, in a vehicle and in the women’s restroom at the park. The complaint states that the victim, who has disabilities, allegedly stayed with Rudnick at his home for a couple of days before going to the park.

The second victim reported the sexual assault on the same day it happened and told law enforcement she initially met Rudnick on the dating site Hily on July 17. After a day, the two switched to communicating on Snapchat, and this time Rudnick allegedly went by the screen name “nightrider165.”

The victim’s in-person encounter with Rudnick took place July 19 at a park in Black Creek. The victim had a female friend who drove her to the park. After chatting and walking around for a bit, Rudnick allegedly suggested going to another park and that the victim should ride with him, with the friend following.

On the way, the two vehicles were separated by distance, and the friend tried to text the victim, but Rudnick allegedly took the phone away and started to grope the victim. Rudnick allegedly drove the victim to Moeller Ridge Nature Park and assaulted her before taking her to her mother’s house and dropping her off.

Rudnick faces up to 40 years in prison for each of the second-degree assaults, along with $100,000 in fines, and the third-degree assault charges each carry 10-year prison sentences and $25,000 in fines.

lpulaski@newmedia-wi.com