MADISON – State Representative Amanda Nedweski (R-Pleasant Prairie) today testified in support of Assembly Bill 677, legislation that she authored that would establish a criminal definition of grooming a child for sexual misconduct and impose serious penalties to hold predators accountable. The bill received a public hearing before the Assembly Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety following recent reporting on widespread allegations of sexual misconduct in Wisconsin schools.
“Grooming is one of the most dangerous and insidious stages of child sexual abuse, yet Wisconsin law does not treat it as the serious crime that it is,” Nedweski said. “Without a clear criminal definition, predators are able to avoid meaningful accountability, families are denied justice, and children are often left vulnerable to further harm. AB 677 closes that gap by clearly defining grooming in statute and imposing real consequences for adults who prey on the innocence of children.”
AB 677 defines grooming as a “course of conduct, pattern of behavior, or series of acts intended to condition, seduce, or entice a child for the purpose of sexual activity or exploitation.” Under the bill, individuals convicted of grooming a child for sexual activity would face, at minimum, a Class G felony punishable by up to ten years in prison and would be required to register as a sex offender under s. 301.45, Wis. Stats.
“Too often, the warning signs are there—but the law doesn’t give authorities the tools to fully act until after a child is further harmed,” Nedweski said. “This bill recognizes grooming itself as predatory behavior and treats it with the seriousness it deserves.”
Nedweski’s testimony drew heavily on the case of Christian Enwright, a former Kenosha schoolteacher accused of grooming a 14-year-old student over the course of two years. During that time, Enwright exchanged thousands of Snapchat messages with the victim—including more than 600 in a single week—many of which were sexual in nature. Despite the extensive evidence, Enwright was charged with only 22 counts of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and will serve, at most, one year in jail.
Nedweski, who represents much of Kenosha County, was joined at the hearing by Michael Karp, the attorney representing Enwright’s victim, who testified in support of the legislation.
“Anyone who exploits a position of trust to manipulate and prey upon a child deserves to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Nedweski said. “AB 677 ensures that predators can no longer hide behind misdemeanor charges or technical gaps in statute. Wisconsin’s children—and their families—deserve nothing less.”
If enacted, Wisconsin would join several other states, including Florida, Illinois, Ohio, and Texas, that have adopted anti-grooming laws in recent years. The legislation is the result of months of conversations with prosecutors, law enforcement officials, parents, and victim advocates, many of whom emphasized the need for a criminal definition of grooming to allow earlier intervention and meaningful accountability.
Nedweski also commended the Department of Public Instruction for their support of AB 677, underscoring the importance of a clear criminal definition of grooming to better protect children.
“I appreciate DPI’s support for this legislation and its recognition that grooming is dangerous, predatory behavior that deserves to be clearly defined and punished under the law,” Nedweski stated. “While AB 677 is not specific to any single profession, it is clear that grooming has become a serious and troubling issue in our schools. Acknowledging that reality is an important step toward protecting children and holding offenders accountable. I am hopeful that DPI’s support will help build bipartisan momentum for this bill will ultimately lead to it being signed into law by Governor Evers.”
“Protecting children from sexual abuse should never be partisan,” Nedweski said. “Whether the offender is a teacher, coach, or family friend, we have a responsibility to ensure that adults who exploit their authority to harm children face severe consequences.”
Rep. Nedweski represents the 32nd Assembly District, which includes the Town and Village of Bloomfield, Village of Bristol, Town of Brighton, Village of Genoa City, portions of Kenosha, portions of Lake Geneva, Village of Paddock Lake, Town of Paris, Village of Pleasant Prairie, Town of Randall, Village of Salem Lakes, Village of Twin Lakes, and the Town of Wheatland.
