Man accused of sexual assault of girl, 5
EAU CLAIRE — A borough man is being held in the Butler County Prison without bail after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 5-year-old girl, and then threatened to kill the child's mother.
State police Wednesday arrested William S. Brookbank, 49, on felony charges of child endangerment and corruption of minors, and misdemeanor charges of indecent assault and indecent exposure.
Investigators on Tuesday interviewed the girl after her mother contacted police about the alleged abuse of her daughter at the defendant's mobile home in Eau Claire, according to court documents.
The youngster recounted that Brookbank pulled down his pants, exposing himself, and inappropriately touched her, police said. While touching her, she told authorities, he called her a derogatory name.
He also allegedly pulled her by the hair, pushed and hit her.
The girl, who accused the defendant of sexually assaulting her on two occasions, “reported that she is fearful” of him, police said.
District Judge Lewis Stoughton arraigned Brookbank on charges and later remanded him to prison without bail — an unusual move in a non-homicide case.
The action was taken after police advised Stoughton of a threat the defendant made following his arrest. Brookbank claimed he was going to get a gun and “shoot the kid's mother when this is done,” authorities said.
At his video arraignment, the accused had asked to be released on his own recognizance. Stoughton told him he could make a request for bail at his Oct. 10 preliminary hearing.
The defendant has an extensive criminal history, racked up in three counties, that includes misdemeanor convictions for assault, drug possession, theft and fleeing police.
In 2008, Butler police arrested him after he stabbed another man in the legs with a knife during an apparent altercation over drugs.
The victim suffered stab wounds and needed 27 surgical staples to close his wounds.
Brookbank eventually pleaded guilty in the case to terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and simple assault, in exchange for prosecutors dismissing the lone felony, aggravated assault.
He was sentenced to 28 to 56 months in state prison.
