Kent Tempus

USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

A 33-year-old man and 29-year-old woman had sex in a squad car after being pulled over for drunken driving in Oconto County.

Travis Husnik of Luxemburg and Heather Basten of New Franken were being transported in August to the Oconto County Jail when they started having sex in a squad car. The deputy stopped the car, told Husnik to pull his pants back up, then put Husnik in the front seat.

Husnik was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior and disorderly conduct in connection to the Aug. 3 incident. The same charges were filed against Basten, who was driving the car which was stopped by a deputy just north of Gillett.

"What do I sentence a guy who has sex in squad car to?" asked County Circuit Court Judge Jay Conley during the recent sentencing in the case.

"I'm getting to be pretty old guy and I've never seen that situation in my legal life. It's not like you have a lot of law school courses or training on what do you sentence a guy who has sex in a squad car to."

Assistant District Attorney Robert Mraz asked Conley to sentence Husnik to time served of nine days, the amount of time he was held until posting $1,500 bond.

"You would hope people would have more self-respect for themselves, and have a better character than to do this behavior in the manner in which this defendant and his female friend did," Mraz told Conley.

"This is kind of … it's a little disgusting to have another person watching (others) engage in sexual relations the way the defendant and his female companion did."

"We're in complete agreement with the state that this was completely unacceptable behavior," said Husnik's attorney, Timothy O'Connell.

Husnik posted bond but remained in custody in Oconto County because of the probation hold or sanction by his Department of Corrections agent. He would continue to be held until Oct. 14 regardless of his sentence.

During his chance to speak in court, Husnik did not address what happened. He told Conley that he understood that he remained in custody after posting bail because of his conduct that night.

Conley said because the case was "so unusual and so outlandish," he was pondering the sentence until he looked over Husnik's criminal history through online court records. Conley said he found 19 convictions, with four felonies, including one for battery to law enforcement in Brown County, and three resisting or obstructing officer convictions.

"This is probably the least offensive thing that you did to law enforcement," Conley said.

"At a minimum, the mildest word that I can think of, the most favorable word I can think of, is your conduct is completely disrespectful to the officer," he added. "The process of being arrested is supposed to be somewhat unpleasant ... and you end up having a tryst. Incredible."

Conley cited Husnik's lengthy record and history of disrespect to law enforcement in sentencing Husnik to 90 days jail.

"I'll acknowledge your past offenses are worse than this, but given these plea negotiations that you're now down to a humble disorderly conduct, with your record, you absolutely in my judgment deserve the maximum."

A decision on how much jail credit Husnik would receive was pending. If Conley finds the probation hold was because of Husnik's actions on Aug. 3, then all of his time would count as credit, meaning he's nearly completed the 90 day sentence when good time is factored in.

Husnik was also ordered to pay $243 court costs and $200 DNA surcharge.

Basten pleaded guilty to the OWI and the disorderly conduct at a hearing Sept. 19, with the lewd and lascivious count read into the record.

"I think the humiliation of the charge itself … would be punishment enough," defense attorney Aaron Linssen said.

Basten spoke briefly.

"I would like to apologize for my actions," she said.

Judge Michael T. Judge, without comment, sentenced Basten to time served of 48 days, and to pay $243 court costs and a $200 DNA surcharge. He also ordered Basten to pay a $793 forfeiture for the OWI citation.