Lawsuit filed over charges against 6-year-old accused of sex assault

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The parents of a 6-year-old boy charged in Grant County with sexual assault have filed a federal lawsuit against prosecutors and others.

The lawsuit contends Grant County officials violated the boy's civil rights and those of his parents. Court documents say the boy was playing doctor with a 5-year-old girl and her brother last fall when the girl's mother thought the boy had touched the girl indecently. That led to juvenile charges of sexual assault.

The Journal Sentinel says the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Madison, contends an investigation into the incident was biased because the girl's father is a well-known political figure in Grant County. The defendants could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Political Coverage Powered by You

Your gift today creates a more connected Minnesota. MPR News is your trusted resource for election coverage, reporting and breaking news. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.