Crime & Safety

Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting Greenfield Teen

Investigators say about a year ago, the suspect was homeless and the victim's mother allowed him to stay at their home, at which point he had sex hundreds of times with a now-15-year-old girl.

A 39-year-old Shorewood man pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexual assault of a child after investigators say he had sex hundreds of times with a now-15-year-old girl. 

Christopher Michael Salinas was initially charged Feb. 8 in Milwaukee County Circuit Court with one count of repeated sexual assault of a child, but the charge was amended to second-degree sexual assault. Salinas faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

The relationship lasted at least a year, according to the criminal complaint, from January 2012 until January 2013, when the girl was removed from her home, where Salinas had been living.

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The two met through the girl's best friend, court records state; Salinas was a friend of the friend's father. He told the teen he liked her, and they started dating. 

Salinas was homeless at the time, according to court records, and the girl's mother allowed him to spend a few nights at their house, and eventually let him move in. 

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Police were called to the house in January 2012, and found Salinas and the girl together in the girl's bedroom. His clothes and belongings were also in the room. 

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The girl did not tell police about the sexual relationship, according to the criminal complaint, because she thought she was in love with Salinas. The girl also believed, based on something her mother told her, she would go to jail if she told police about the sexual relationship.

In December, the girl told Salinas she did not want to be with him any more, according to the criminal complaint. After she was removed from the home, the complaint states, she told police he had become more controlling, and called her school, friends and teachers and sent sexually explicit texts to her friends.

After she moved out, the girl told police she and Salinas had sex hundreds of times. She also said Salinas threatened to kill her or have her killed if she told police about their relationship.

Salinas' sentencing hearing is scheduled for July 11. 


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