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State Drops Sexual Assault Charges Against Jacob Blake

Blake Pleads Guilty To Disorderly Conduct, Sentenced To 2 Years Probation

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Jacob Blake, center, attended a brief virtual pre-trial hearing on Oct. 21, 2020.
A screen shot of Jacob Blake, center, attending a brief virtual pre-trial hearing on Oct. 21, 2020 regarding charges he faces for criminal trespass, third-degree sexual assault and disorderly conduct. Corrinne Hess/WPR

The state of Wisconsin dropped sexual assault charges against Jacob Blake on Friday.

Kenosha Police were trying to take Jacob Blake into custody on an outstanding sexual assault warrant when officer Rusten Shesky shot him seven times in the back Aug. 23. The shooting set off weeks of protests in Kenosha that in turn prompted right-wing backlash, including the shooting of three protesters by 17-year-old Illinois resident Kyle Rittenhouse.

Blake was charged with sexual assault for domestic incidents that happened months before he was shot. After the shooting, he was handcuffed to his hospital bed, as he was in federal custody for the outstanding warrant, though the cuffs were removed and Milwaukee deputies standing guard were dismissed after he posted bail.

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He appeared Friday via Zoom Friday and pleaded guilty to two counts of disorderly conduct, for which he was sentenced to two years of probation.

Blake is paralyzed following the August shooting and has been undergoing treatment at a rehabilitation center in Illinois since being released from the hospital. He will be allowed to live in Illinois under the terms of his probation.