SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (WHBL) -- A Sheboygan man is facing sexual assault and child abuse charges for beating up and assaulting an underage ex-girlfriend.
19-year-old Austyn Mendez is charged with one count of repeated sexual assault of the same child and child abuse.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim in the case called police last week to say she'd been in an abusive relationship with Mendez. She told police the relationship started before her 16th birthday and had continued from March of 2015 to March of 2016.
The victim explained to police that Mendez had lead her in a controlling relationship, harassing her into having sex by telling her "You're my girlfriend, that's what you're suppose to do." She also related multiple occasions where Mendez beat her up and assaulted her, and provided pictures to police of bruises left behind. She says the final assault came after they broke up and Mendez tried to force her into paying his electric bill. Mendez also allegedly texted her "Sometimes I wish I was dead too. That's what I would do if you ever went and snitched on me and you would hate yourself for it."
When police questioned Mendez, he allegedly admitted to having sex with the victim before she was 16, but said he didn't feel right about it. Police also say he denied ever having beaten up the victim and said in all the cases she told police that she'd started those fights and he was defending himself.
Mendez remains free on a $5,000 cash bond. A preliminary hearing in his case is scheduled for today.