Sussex Teenager Pleads No Contest In Alleged Sexual Assault

The Sussex teenager accused of sexual assault of a six year old girl pleaded no contest on Thursday to two of the felony charges he faced in Washington County Circuit Court. 

Daniel Koepke, 17, who faced four charges stemming from an incident this summer in Washington County, will be sentenced on Jan. 24 after the court found him guilty of one count of causing a child under 13 to view or listen to sexual activity and one count of incest.   

Koepke faces up to 12 1/2 years of imprisonment and a $25,000 for the first charge and up to 40 years of imprisonment and a $100,000 fine for the second charge. 

The court ordered a felony charge of first degree sexual assault of a child and a felony charge exposing genitals or pubic area to be dismissed but read in to the record. 

Koepke was accused of masturbating in front of the victim and touching her  inappropriately, according to the criminal complaint. 

The case drew the attention of the Sussex community last week when it was reveled that the school district was unaware of the court proceedings until Nov. 6.

Koepke stopped attending classes at the high school last week after the district  "worked out a cooperative arrangement with the individual," according to district spokeswoman Denise Lindberg.  

Koepke's address is also near Woodside Elementary School, causing concern for parents. Woodside Principal James Edmond wrote a letter to parents, saying steps have been taken to address the situation including "extra police patrols have been planned near the school." 

The district, according to parents, also made "robocalls" describing the situation and steps being taken by the district.