ELKHORN
A former Walworth County Sheriff’s Office deputy charged with sexual assault and other crimes was held on a $500,000 cash bond after his initial court appearance Friday.
Gerardo Baca, 36, of Delavan, was arrested last Thursday on 19 felony charges ranging from various degrees of sexual assault to stalking, according to Walworth County Court records.
During Friday’s hearing at the Waukesha County Judicial Center, Walworth County Court Commissioner Peter Navis set bond at $500,000 with multiple conditions. Baca is currently being held at the Waukesha County Jail.
In a news release, the sheriff’s office confirmed Baca was taken into custody Thursday by Waukesha authorities and placed on administrative leave. The investigation into the case was transferred to the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office after a request by Walworth County Sheriff Kurt Picknell.
Baca was hired by the sheriff’s office in January 2017. In an update issued by Picknell on Friday afternoon, the sheriff’s office announced Baca had resigned from his position.
The alleged assaults and incidents started in June and July of 2012, before continuing in January and March of 2016, July of 2018, August and November of 2019 along with January, May and June of 2020 and October of 2021, court records show.
Below is a list of the felony charges Baca faces:
- Three counts of third-degree sexual assault.
- Seven counts of second-degree sexual assault of an intoxicated victim.
- Three counts of capturing an intimate representation.
- Two counts of threatening to communicate derogatory information.
- One count of attempted third-degree sexual assault.
- One count of child enticement.
- One count of stalking.
- One count of capturing an image of nudity.
Picknell said the sheriff’s office received information about potential off-duty misconduct by Baca on Feb. 1. Picknell said Baca was placed on leave “immediately,” Picknell said in the news release.
“The Walworth County Sheriff’s Office is a very good agency with great people,” Picknell said. “I take this matter seriously and we continue to serve the mission of public safety.”
Picknell also said the sheriff’s office would conduct an internal investigation.
The Waukesha County Sheriff’s Office would like to speak with any potential victims of Baca’s. If you or someone you know has had contact with Baca, please contact Waukesha County Sheriff Detective Aaron Hoppe at 262-896-8143 or Waukesha County Sheriff Detective Jack Kopatich at 262-896-8140.
The criminal complaint in the case has been proposed to be sealed, but the status of the order remains unknown as of Friday afternoon.
On May 17, 2021, the Walworth County’s Sheriff’s Office shared on its that Baca was given the Meritorious Service Award. The award was given “in recognition of exceptional performance and professionalism while confronted with an armed individual.”
This story has been updated to reflect the announcement of Baca’s resignation from the sheriff’s office, the amount of the cash bond set for him and his incarceration status. Additionally, the date of his administrative leave has been corrected as well.
