Waukesha armed sexual assault; trial for Khalil Perry begins
WAUKESHA, Wis. - A trial is now underway for a teen charged with sexually assaulting an 87-year-old woman in Waukesha in 2021. Testimony began on Tuesday morning, May 2.
Wearing a suit and sitting between his two public defenders, 15-year-old Khalil Perry listened to the state's case against him.
"He says I’m the devil. I'm the devil - the words he starts to use. She starts to pray," said Michael Thurston, deputy district attorney.
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Police say a then-87-year-old woman was at an outdoor book drop at the Waukesha Public Library in November 2021 when Perry, then 14, approached her.
Police say Perry then held the woman at knifepoint – and then stole her car and credit cards. The woman said Perry sexually assaulted her – something Perry denies.
"Pay special attention to the words that [REDACTED] says and the order of events she says occurred. It’s almost as an afterthought that she accuses Khalil of attempting to sexually assault her," said Nicole Ostrowski, defense attorney.
Perry is charged with the following criminal counts:
- First-degree sexual assault
- Armed robbery with use of force
- Operate without consent-possess weapon
- Kidnapping
"She says at one point – she starts to pray. She says, and I'm paraphrasing, ‘Dear Lord, don’t let this happen,’" Thurston said.
Waukesha Public Library
Defense attorneys have tried to keep the case out of adult court. Last spring, Perry was waived into adult court. On Dec. 8, 2022, Perry was deemed competent to stand trial. On Dec. 21, he was bound over for trial. On Jan. 19, Perry pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
"We’ll ask you find Khalil not guilty of the sexual assault and armed robbery," Ostrowski said.
Perry is related to Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson. Johnson in December 2021 released a statement on this case.