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Attacker in jail for assailing student

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by Ken Harris

Monday, April 28, 2008

A man convicted of attacking a University of Wisconsin student in 2006 was sentenced Friday to seven and a half years in state prison and nine and a half years of extended supervision.

Paul Aud, 34, was convicted last November for attacking a UW student in the early morning hours of Aug. 23, 2006 in her apartment building on Langdon Street.

According to Dane County District Attorney Lana Mades, Aud followed the student into the stairwell of her apartment building and began beating her in the face. He fled after she kicked him in the groin.

According to Dane County Assistant District Attorney Mike Verveer, Aud claimed he had performed the act under the influence of a large amount of alcohol and apologized to the victim’s family at the sentencing hearing.

Verveer added the victim’s father also gave a very emotional speech at the sentencing.

“In his family’s justification, Madison is not a safe city anymore and he and his family do not want to be a part of Madison anymore,” Verveer said.

According to Verveer, detectives were able to match DNA found on the crime scene to cigarettes Aud smoked while actually in the presence of Madison police.

Aud had been out of jail after his family paid his bail, but he was again arrested for lewd behavior, Verveer said. Aud was picked up for masturbating in front of someone in traffic, he added.

The lewd behavior charges were dropped, but in exchange for Aud’s guilty plea on the charges of second-degree sexual assault and substantial battery with intent of bodily harm in connection with the August assault, according to Verveer.

Verveer said though “things are pretty poor right now in terms of the level of comfort” in the city because of the three unsolved homicides currently under investigation, Aud’s conviction and sentencing is a good sign that justice can be served, and Aud is “where he belongs.”

“People don’t seem to have tremendous faith in the cops … but it’s important to note they do have some success in solving crimes,” Verveer said.

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