Waterford man accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting "vulnerable" 14-year-old girl sentenced to prison

RACINE COUNTY -- A Waterford man, accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a "vulnerable" 14-year-old girl back in 2014 has been sentenced in the case against him.

76-year-old James Barnak on October 17th pleaded guilty to a felony charge of second degree sexual assault of a child.

In court on Tuesday, November 1st, Barnak was sentenced to serve 12 years in prison, and three years extended supervision.

That's to be served concurrently with a sentence handed down for Barnak in a case out of Walworth County, filed in November of 2014. In that case, Barnak pleaded guilty to one count of felony child enticement -- causing mentahl/bodily harm and he was sentenced to serve seven years and six months in prison, and five years extended supervision.

He was ordered to pay more than $1,000 in restitution in that case.

Barnak must register as a sex offender. He may not possess a computer, smartphone or device with access to the internet unless approved by an agent. He cannot have contact with minors unless approved by an agent and the child(ren's) parents. He may not work or volunteer in settings where children are present (minors under the age of 16). He has been ordered to have no contact with the victim in this case.

Charges were filed out of Racine County on November 11th, 2014 -- after the Racine County Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant at Barnak's home following "an ongoing and extensive" investigation into the man.

Barnak was taken into custody following the execution of the search warrant.

The criminal complaint filed against Barnak says the Racine County Sheriff's Office was made aware of Barnak by the East Troy Police Department, which was investigating an alleged sexual assault.

Charges were filed out of Walworth County on November 12th, 2014.

The complaint says a 14-year-old girl told police she was at her home in East Troy on November 7th, 2014 -- when Barnak came over to fix her computer. The girl told police Barnak told her to take off her shirt, posed her in a sexually suggestive pose and took pictures of her. The girl told police she was under the impression she would be receiving money from Barnak for the photos.

The girl told police it was then that Barnak tied her up and blindfolded her, telling her to lie down on her back. The girl told police Barnak began choking her to the point she thought she was going to black out, according to the complaint.

The complaint indicates Barnak asked the girl if he could play with her, and she said "no." That's when the girl told police Barnak asked the girl to "at least show some more skin" -- with the girl again saying "no."

The girl told police eventually, Barnak untied her, and announced he would be leaving her residence.

The complaint says the girl told police Barnak has been touching her inappropriately since she was eight or nine years old -- saying she was afraid she would be hurt if she didn't do what he said.

Police interviewed Barnak -- who admitted to tying the girl up at her home in East Troy, taking pictures of her, asking her to remove clothing, and choking her -- also admitting he had touched the girl several times at his home in Waterford.

The complaint says Barnak told police he had targeted the girl because she was vulnerable.