The domestic abuse victim who first accused a Calumet County District Attorney of “sexting” her will file a lawsuit against the DA by Friday, according to her attorney.
Stephanie Van Groll, 25, was the first woman to file a complaint against former DA Ken Kratz, 50, for sending her inappropriate texts over a three day period while Kratz was prosecuting her boyfriend for trying to strangle her.
Van Groll’s attorney, Michael Fox, said in a statement the decision to prosecute Kratz was made after careful consideration of Van Groll’s situation, her family and even of Kratz himself.
Fox also condemned Kratz for his behavior, noting Van Groll was a domestic abuse victim who had turned to him for help.
“Mr. Kratz not only abused the privilege of his office and its implied position of protection, he victimized a woman who had already been victimized,” Fox said.
Complete details of the lawsuit will be made available when it is filed in court on Friday, Fox said.
Kratz admitted to sending Van Groll text messages of a sexual nature, but after Van Groll complained, the Office of Lawyer Regulation closed their investigation after finding Kratz had not committed professional misconduct.
The office only requested Kratz step down as head of the Crime Victims’ Rights Board.
Gov. Jim Doyle publicly called into question the office’s decision not to pursue a stricter punishment toward Kratz.
“Other serious questions remain…we must determine why apparently no referral was made to the Crime Victims’ Rights Board and why there was an inadequate response from the OLR,” Doyle said in a statement.
The Office of Lawyer Regulation reopened the investigation into Kratz, but he resigned last week before the first hearing of the investigation.
Kratz has not commented on the issue since announcing his resignation and is currently out of the state receiving treatment for an unspecified medical condition.
“I hope to repair my reputation and my legal career upon my return,” Kratz said in a statement.