9-1-15 Wisconsin:RACINE — A convicted child sex offender is no longer free in Racine after allegedly committing a series of violations that sent him back to a state-run sex offender treatment center.
Michael W. Fink, 47, was sentenced in 1994 to 14 years in prison after he was convicted of molesting two female baby sitters. His prison term was up in 2006, but before his release, he was deemed a sexually dangerous person and was transferred to Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center in Mauston. He was kept in the locked-down treatment center through a post-prison form of involuntary civil commitment, which is used when some sex offenders are deemed too dangerous to be released back into society.
During a hearing last week, Racine County Circuit Court Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz agreed to revoke his supervised release after Fink had been free for about two years.
Assistant Attorney General Angelina Gabriele said Fink already had agreed to have his release revoked by Aug. 3, the prior hearing date. Fink’s defense attorney, Assistant State Public Defender Robert Peterson, didn’t object to Fink’s supervision revocation during either hearing.
A number of violations
Gabriele said Fink racked up a number of violations while he has been free. He had alcohol, contact with a felon and an unapproved sexual relationship with an adult — all of which were prohibitions, she said. Fink also was accused of illegally tapping into cable, and a child’s sock was found in his laundry, Gabriele said. Those were violations, too.
With the revocation now approved, Fink cannot petition for release again until April 21.
Fink still must register for life as a sex offender, according to the state’s Sex Offender Registry.
It was in early 2013 when Fink nearly was relocated just down the block from one of his victims. The woman, who is not being named because of the nature of the case, learned of the pending placement via a Facebook posting. That incident resulted in changes to department procedures for placing convicted sex offenders back into their communities on supervised release.
The woman said state Department of Justice staff haven’t called her, or returned her calls, about Fink’s re-commitment.
“Personally, Sand Ridge isn’t the place for him,” the woman said Monday when reached for comment. “People like him cannot be rehabilitated.”
She said Fink was arrested four times in the two years he was free, and he should be in prison.
“He needs a little bit more than Sand Ridge can offer him,” said the woman, adding she will “sleep well, until next April.”
Fink was returned to Sand Ridge sometime prior to Aug. 3, but the exact date couldn’t be determined. Wisconsin DOJ spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz referred that question to the state’s Department of Corrections. DOC spokeswoman Joy Staab referred questions to the state Department of Health Services, which operates the center.
“But they’re probably not going to be able to release it because it’s a treatment facility,” Staab said.
A message was left Monday for a DHS spokeswoman, but she wasn’t available for comment. ..Source.. by Kristen Zambo
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