A Richland County couple is facing felony charges after they arranged the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl, according to our sister station in Madison, channel 3000.
Officials said 43-year-old Annette M. Winger made arrangements for her boyfriend, 47-year-old John A. Elder, to sexually assault a 12-year-old child at a Richland Center apartment.
The criminal complaint detailed the girl had been sexually assaulted 10 times between Sept. 1, 2017 and Jan. 1, 2018 at Winger's apartment.
Winger reportedly lied to the child's caregiver so she could take her to the house to perform the sexual acts on Felder.
According to the complaint, Winger told the girl that Elder "needed good energy (sexual contact) from (the girl) in order to defeat the bad energy that Elder has inside of him. (And) that if (the girl) did not do the things Elder was asking her to do, Elder would become suicidal."
During one occasion, Elder attempted to make the girl watch pornographic videos. She turned away, but according to the complaint, still heard the audio.
During multiple occasions, the girl tried to escape but was held down.
Elder, 47, is facing charges of first-degree sexual assault of a child under 13, sexual assault of a child under 16, causing a child under 13 to view or listen to sexual activity and false imprisonment. He will be in court next week.
Winger, 43, is facing a charge of felony failure to protect a child. She will be in court Thursday.
Winger acknowledged the assaults in emails to the girl in April.
