Not Guilty On All Counts - 1st Degree Sexual Assault - Chris Van Wagner Defending

13 APRIL 2009. WAUSAU WI.

On April 3, 2009, the family of Scott A. Ramker offered prayers of relief and thanks for the not guilty verdict returned late Friday by a Marathon County Circuit Court jury after a week-long jury trial. The State had accused Mr. Ramker based on accusations of sexual assault that, as proven at trial, were unreliable and untrue. But late Friday, after just over three hours of deliberations, the jury (consisting of 7 men and 5 women) found Scott A. Ramker (21, from Colby, Wisconsin) not guilty on all three counts of first degree sexual assault of a child. Attorney Christopher Van Wagner, a partner in Van Wagner & Wood, S.C., in Madison, represented Scott Ramker.

Today’s prayers brought to a close this criminal court chapter of a long, tragic and painful matter. Scott was arrested on these false accusations 18 months ago, and he promptly requested a trial so he could clear his name. With today’s verdict, he sought to do so. These accusations, and the impact of them on Scott and his family, put his entire family through a devastating nightmare, one that was met with disbelief from the very beginning by Scott’s friends, neighbors and church community.

After 16 months of aggressive defense, Van Wagner, who is generally known for very brief closing arguments in his numerous past acquittals, this time gave a long, impassioned closing argument, to which the jury nonetheless paid very close attention. In his closing, Van Wagner outlined for the jury the many seemingly fabricated, often inconsistent and patently incredible claims upon which the State brought these charges. The defense, however, was able to put on evidence - largely ignored by the State before trial - that showed the suspicious background and questionable circustances under which these false allegations were made.

At a recent criminal defense seminar at which Attorney Van Wagner lectured on the topic of defending clients charged with sex crimes, he noted that, “Sexual assault charges are the easiest accusations to make and the most difficult to disprove.” In this case, much to the relief of the Ramker family, Van Wagner was once again able to do so, disproving these damaging and false accusations for the jury.

State of Wisconsin vs. Scott A. Ramker
Marathon County Circuit Court
Case Number 2007CF000808
Count 1 – 1st Degree Sexual Assault of Child, Felony B: Not Guilty
Count 2 – 1st Degree Sexual Assault of Child, Felony B: Not Guilty
Count 3 – 1st Degree Sexual Assault of Child, Felony B: Not Guilty
Prosecuting Attorney: Attorney Lesli Pluster, Marathon County District Attorney Office
Criminal Defense Attorney: Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner, Van Wagner & Wood, Madison, WI
Presiding Judge: Honorable Gregory E. Grau

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