Overview:
Troy W. Lotharius, 20, of Racine, is charged in Racine County Case 2026CF001377 with causing a child to view sexual activity, exposing his genitals to a child, exposing a child to harmful material and two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. According to the criminal complaint, he sent nude photos of himself to a 15-year-old girl in July and had sexual contact with her twice in September, when she was 16. A court commissioner set a $10,000 cash bond Nov. 10 and ordered no contact with the girl. His preliminary hearing is at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 18.
RACINE COUNTY, Wis. — A 20-year-old Racine man who worked at a private school in Racine is charged with sending explicit photos of himself to a 15-year-old girl and later having sexual contact with her, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Racine County District Attorney’s Office.
Troy W. Lotharius is charged with three felonies: causing a child age 13 or older to view sexual activity, exposing his genitals to a child and exposing a child to harmful material. He is also charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree sexual assault.
He was arrested Nov. 6, according to the complaint, after he told a Caledonia police detective he would not turn himself in. At his first court appearance Nov. 10, a court commissioner found probable cause, set a $10,000 cash bond and ordered him to have no contact with the girl, her home or her family, court records show. His preliminary hearing is Nov. 18.
What this means for Racine County families
According to the complaint, the case came to light because the girl told a social worker at her school, who reported it to police in October. The complaint describes a friendship with an adult that moved to private messaging and then to sexual contact.
Lotharius worked at a private school in Racine, according to the complaint. Racine County Eye has not independently confirmed his employment and is not naming the school to avoid identifying the girl.
Key facts
- Defendant: Troy W. Lotharius, 20, of Racine.
- Case: Racine County Case 2026CF001377filed Nov. 10 and assigned to Circuit Judge Jessica Lynott, Branch 3.
- Charges: Causing a child age 13 to 18 to view sexual activity, a Class H felony (Wis. Stat. 948.055(1)); exposing genitals to a child, a Class I felony (948.10(1)(a)); exposing a child to harmful material, a Class I felony (948.11(2)(a)); and two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, a Class A misdemeanor (940.225(3m)).
- Maximum penalties: Up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine on the Class H felony; up to three and a half years and $10,000 on each Class I felony; and up to nine months in jail and $10,000 on each misdemeanor.
- Investigating agency: Caledonia Police Department.
- Prosecutors: Assistant District Attorney Brooke L. Erickson is assigned to the case. Antoinette L. Rich appeared for the state at the first appearance, court records show.
- Defense attorney: Attorney Jennifer Anne Bork appeared for Lotharius, court records show.
- Bond: $10,000 cash, set Nov. 10 by Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch, with an order of no contact with the girl, her home or her family.
- Next court date: Preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the lower-level hearing room at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center.
- Prior record: The complaint lists no prior convictions.
What the complaint says
According to the complaint, Lotharius met the girl in December 2025, when she was 15 and he was 19. The two began messaging on Snapchat. The girl told investigators he became “handsy” with her, that she did not consent and that she told him no.
A detective who reviewed a download of the girl’s phone found nude photos Lotharius had sent of himself on July 22, when she was 15, the complaint says.
The girl told an interviewer that Lotharius had sexual contact with her on two occasions in September, about Sept. 5 and Sept. 12, when she was 16, according to the complaint. Those two incidents are the basis for the fourth-degree sexual assault counts.
In messages from Oct. 12 that police reviewed, Lotharius blamed the girl, called her the “problem” and said she manipulated him, according to the complaint.
The investigation
A social worker at the girl’s school reported what she had disclosed on Oct. 14, and a Caledonia detective took over the case Oct. 16, the complaint says. The girl was interviewed at a child advocacy center Oct. 19.
According to the complaint, Lotharius agreed to meet with the detective but did not show up, said he would not talk until the detective told him what the girl had said, and said he would not turn himself in. He was found and arrested Nov. 6.
What happened in court
Lotharius appeared by video from custody Nov. 10 before Court Commissioner Alice Rudebusch. The reading of the complaint was waived, probable cause was found and bond was set at $10,000 cash, court records show.
What we know and what we don’t
We know Lotharius is charged with five counts, has a lawyer, and faces a $10,000 cash bond with an order to stay away from the girl.
We don’t know how he answers the charges; the complaint includes no statement from him to police, and court records do not show a plea.
What happens next?
Lotharius’ preliminary hearing is set for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, in the lower-level hearing room at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, according to court records. At a preliminary hearing, the court decides whether there is enough evidence to move a felony case forward. Racine County Eye will follow the case.
Get help: Anyone affected by sexual violence can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673 or by texting HOPE to 64673. The Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault lists local service providers by county. To report suspected child abuse in Wisconsin, contact the county where the child lives.
More Racine County Eye coverage: child sexual assault cases in Racine County.
What is Troy Lotharius charged with?
Troy W. Lotharius, 20, of Racine, is charged in Racine County Case 2026CF001377 with causing a child to view sexual activity, exposing his genitals to a child, exposing a child to harmful material and two counts of fourth-degree sexual assault. According to the criminal complaint, he sent nude photos of himself to a 15-year-old girl in July 2026 and had sexual contact with her twice in September, when she was 16.
When is Troy Lotharius next in court?
Lotharius has a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026, at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center. His bond is $10,000 cash.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A criminal complaint contains allegations only.
Reported by Denise Lockwood. Racine County Eye used AI tools to help draft and organize this story from documents; every fact was verified by a journalist.
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Source: racinecountyeye.com
