Wausau Pilot & Review

A Junction City man was sentenced Wednesday to 16 years in prison for sexually assaulting two children over the course of five years, according to Portage County District Attorney Cass Cousins.

Kevin J. Drewa, 42, was charged in 2021 with sexually assaulting two children during a series of offenses  that took place in Stevens Point between 2009 and 2014. 

At a jury trial in January of 2024, a Portage County jury found Drewa guilty beyond a reasonable  doubt of all charges against him—Repeated Sexual Assault of the first child, a single incident of Second  Degree Sexual Assault of the second child, and Repeated Sexual Assault of the second child. The trial was  presided over by Portage County Circuit Court Judge Patricia Baker, who also conducted the sentencing  hearing on April 8.

Because of the nature of the offenses, Drewa is ineligible for earned release  or parole and will be nearly 60 years old when released from prison. Following his release, he will be placed on extended supervision for an additional 16 years. He will also be registered and  monitored as a sex offender for the rest of his life. 

At the sentencing hearing, Drewa maintained his innocence. The State commented that the jury must have found the evidence presented against the  defendant at trial to be compelling because it returned the guilty verdicts after deliberating for a relatively  short period of time given the sensitive nature of the charges. The Court commented during the sentencing  hearing that the verdicts were justified based on the evidence presented, that the demeanor and testimony  of the child victims was entirely consistent with them having suffered the trauma of sexual abuse, and the judge encouraged Drewa to acknowledge and accept what he had done to these children. 

“Prosecuting crimes against children is the highest priority of my  office,” Cousins said, in a prepared statement. “This outcome represents a lengthy and well-deserved prison sentence for a truly despicable series of  offenses perpetrated against two child victims. I would like to recognize the bravery of the two child  victims, who both overcame tremendous odds to face their abuser in court, testify about what he had done  to them, and ultimately have him held responsible for his crimes.” 

The investigation was conducted by the Stevens Point Police Department and the trial was prosecuted by  Portage County Assistant District Attorney Brian Pfeil.