Lawmaker sentenced to 5 months in groping case

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) — State Rep. Bill Kramer is headed to jail for five months after pleading no contest to fourth-degree sexual assault.

Kramer, the former Assembly majority leader, reached a plea deal last month just before he was to go to trial on felony charges. He starts his sentence Dec. 4.

Kramer, a town of Waukesha Republican, was accused of groping a woman outside a GOP event at a Muskego tavern in 2011. He was also accused of harassing two other women, a legislative aide and a lobbyist, at a fundraiser in Washington last February.

Kramer was stripped of his majority leader position after he was accused.

His victim addressed Kramer in court Tuesday, saying she feared she might be raped after she rejected his advances. The Waukesha Freeman reported that Kramer apologized to the woman during the hearing.

“You considered me a friend and I violated that friendship,” Kramer said.

Reserve Judge Neal Nettesheim set several conditions for Kramer, including getting a sex offender and alcohol assessment and staying sober, plus three years probation. Kramer told the judge he hadn’t had a drink since Feb. 28.

Kramer, 49, will not have to register as a sex offender.