EAU CLAIRE — A plea agreement appears likely in the case against a man charged with second degree sexual assault and incest, but isn’t in place yet.
Alberto Flores-Reyes, 21, was in court Wednesday for a status conference. His attorney told the court he has met with prosecutors and “is working towards resolution.” He asked the judge to set another hearing “in a few weeks.”
Flores-Reyes was charged in January after a young relative told investigators he had touched her sexually several times and had sexual intercourse with her once. When they confronted Flores-Reyes, according to the criminal complaint, he initially denied the accusations.
His story changed later. In an attempt to paint the girl as the one who had sought out the sexual activity he said he “succumbed to the situation. When the investigators asked how old he thought she was, he said 14 or 15.
Flores-Reyes has twice attempted to fire his attorney, with both attempts rejected by the judge. The first time was in April, when he said he wanted an attorney who speaks Spanish. The court rejected the request by noting there is only one attorney in Eau Claire County who speaks Spanish, and that person isn’t fluent.
During a status conference last month, court records show Flores-Reyes said he wanted a different attorney because the one representing him “has not gotten the defendant’s bond converted to a signature bond.” The court rejected that argument as well, saying the bond will remain cash. During his initial hearing the judge set a $25,000 cash bond after prosecutors argued Flores-Reyes was a flight risk.
The court did allow Flores-Reyes to contact the state public defender’s office to request a new attorney. It is unclear whether he has done so and he was represented by the same attorney Wednesday as at previous hearings.
Both charges against Flores-Reyes are Class C felonies, carrying sentences of up to 40 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000. He has pleaded not guilty, and is next due in court July 23.
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