Nathaniel Shuda

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

A 22-year-old Oshkosh man facing what prosecutors call Wisconsin's most-serious criminal charge now stands accused of intimidating a victim.

Brandon J. Harris appeared Friday in Winnebago County Circuit Court, where he pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges after authorities say he intimidated the mother of a 14-month-old boy who suffered life-threatening injuries April 4 when Harris was baby-sitting him.

Harris faces charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child younger than 13 causing bodily harm, physical abuse of a child with the intent of causing great bodily harm, two counts of threatening a police officer and felony intimidation of a victim, all as a repeat offender.

He remains in custody at the Winnebago County Jail on a $500,000 cash bond.

During Friday's court hearing, public defender Katena Roberts-Turner asked the court to dismiss the sexual assault charge against her client, saying the allegations were not sexual in nature. Deputy District Attorney Scott Ceman said the law does not require there to be sexual intercourse but rather only the intentional touching of intimate parts that degrades the child and causes great bodily harm.

Judge Barbara Key denied the defense's motion to dismiss the charge, finding there was enough evidence for the case to continue.

Key also granted a request from prosecutors to take away Harris's phone and mail privileges while he's in jail and prohibited visits from the victim.

In terms of penalty, it is the “most violent case that can be charged," Ceman said, noting it's the first time he's ever seen the charge used and that it's likely the first time it's been filed in Winnebago County.

First-degree sexual assault of a child younger than 13 is one of only two Class A felonies in the state, with the other being first-degree intentional homicide, Ceman said. But unlike the homicide charge, which has a minimum prison sentence of at 20 years before the defendant is eligible for extended supervision, the sexual assault charge has a 25-year minimum.

If convicted, Harris could face a maximum of life in prison.

According to officer testimony during Friday's preliminary hearing, Harris was baby-sitting a 14-month-old boy April 4, when the boy suffered extensive bruising and other injuries to his face, cheek, buttocks, thighs, abdomen and groin areas, including a human bite mark on his cheek and a cut near his genitals.

The boy's mother told police she was at work when Harris called her about 4:20 a.m. to tell her the boy fell out of a crib, according to testimony. When the woman went home to check on the boy, she noticed bruising on the boy's forehead but did not notice the extent of his injuries in the dark room.

After returning home about 90 minutes later, she looked at the boy's injuries more closely and took him to Mercy Medical Center, officers testified. The boy was later taken to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, where a doctor there told police the boy suffered from a lacerated liver, contusions on his lungs and possible internal bleeding.

Harris told police the boy was a "mama's boy" and becomes "territorial" and jealous whenever Harris tries to get close to her, according to testimony. Harris said he thought the boy purposely hurts himself whenever Harris is babysitting because he doesn't like him.

While talking to police, Harris started swearing at an officer, calling him names and threatened to beat him up, as well as the officer's son, according to testimony.

While in custody at the Winnebago County Jail, Harris called the woman multiple times during the next 24 hours, telling her to go to the District Attorney's Office and tell the prosecutor to mind his own business, officers testified. On April 7, another inmate at the jail called the woman on Harris' behalf to tell her to recant her previous statements and tell police she lied.

If convicted on all charges, Harris could face a maximum sentence of life in prison. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 1.

Reach Nathaniel Shuda at 920-426-6632 or nshuda@thenorthwestern.com; on Twitter: @onwnshuda.