Owen man sentenced to 4 life terms for child sexual assault

Joseph Pierce Sr., formerly of Owen, has been sentenced to four consecutive life terms in the Wisconsin State Prison system for sexually assaulting four young girls.

The sentencing took place Oct. 31 in the Clark County Circuit Court. Judge Daniel Diehn handed down the sentence, which does not allow for the possibility of parole or extended supervision. In addition to the four life sentences, the court imposed an additional 16 years in the prison system for related offenses.

Pierce, 70, was charged in 2021 with sexually assaulting the girls over the past several years, starting in 2017.He was convicted of eight felonies, including two counts of repeated sexual assault of a child, child enticement, attempted child sexual assault, first-degree sexual assault of a child and three counts of exposing a child to harmful materials, after a four-day jury trial in August.

Three of Pierce’s victims gave statements in court last Thursday, with one of them stating that the assaults started when she was 5 years old.

Pierce also was previously convicted of child sexual assault in Waupaca County, having served 21 years in prison for that.

Clark County District Attorney Melissa Inlow, who tried the case for the state along with Assistant Attorney General James Krause, said in a statement that she was pleased with Pierce’s recent sentencing.

“The defendant’s vile behavior and history of similar conduct makes it clear that protection of the public could only be achieved by permanent confinement,” Inlow wrote.

“Without the courage and bravery of the four young victims who came forward and testified at trial, Joseph C. Pierce Sr. would not have been held accountable for his heinous crimes,” she added.