The Badger Herald

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Sexual assault suspect faces 60 years

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Also by Lynn Heidmann:

Library Mall to add Subway, coffee shop (March 21, 2007)
Ticket dispute ends in lottery (May 3, 2007)
UW vet student earns book treat (March 9, 2007)

by Lynn Heidmann

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

The suspect in the Aug. 23 Langdon Street sexual assault case appeared in court Monday and was charged with three counts that could land him in prison for more than 60 years.

According to Assistant District Attorney Mike Verveer, Paul Curtis Aud was charged with kidnapping, attempted second-degree sexual assault and battery. Verveer added his bail is posted at $9,000 cash, and said Aud was formerly employed as a delivery man at Toppers Pizza and lives just off Capitol Square in the downtown area.

Though the suspect had no previous criminal record, he said, charges for the three separate counts add up to a minimum of 60 years behind bars — 40 years minimum for the kidnapping charge, 20 years for the sexual assault charge, and nine months for the battery charge.

Because of the physical description provided by the victim, as well as shreds of a ripped T-shirt and eyeglasses from the suspect, Verveer said detectives were able to confidently charge Aud on all accounts.

He also said when detectives interviewed the suspect outside Toppers Pizza, he was smoking a cigarette that was recovered after being discarded. The DNA on Aud's cigarette reportedly matched DNA found on both the t-shirt shreds and the glasses.

"It's a very strong case because not only is there strong evidence otherwise, but it's a DNA match case, which we don't have a lot of," Verveer said.

Verveer also said when detectives spoke to the suspect's manger at Toppers Pizza, she reported Aud showed up to work after the attack with unexplained injuries and new eyeglasses. Aud said he could not explain the scratches and bruises because he "blacked out from alcohol consumption," according to Verveer.

Though Aud could be convicted of the charges as early as next week, the effect his actions had on the anonymous victim remain.

"It's hard for me to go up the stairs," the victim said in a previous interview with The Badger Herald. "I hate that spot; my body just locks up. I never used to be so jittery; I was totally comfortable sleeping anywhere. … This has just totally changed everything I am."

— Kate Maternowski contributed to this report.