A Sheboygan farmer has been ordered to spend decades under state control after a jury found he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl who was staying overnight at his home.
At a March 27 sentencing hearing, Judge Rebecca Persick handed 49-year-old Nathan Calkins, owner of Lake Orchard Farm, a bifurcated 40-year sentence: 20 years of initial confinement in prison followed by 20 years of extended supervision. The court also barred him from contact with non-family minors and required him to comply with sex-offender registration rules.
According to reporting by the Sheboygan Press, Calkins was convicted of first-degree child sex assault after a two-day jury trial on Feb. 10-11. Prosecutors said the assault happened on Jan. 1, 2025, when the victim, then 12, was at Calkins' house as a guest of his daughter.
The criminal complaint describes the girl telling an interviewer at the Lakeshore Regional Child Advocacy Center that the touching escalated while they watched a movie. Her account became a key piece of evidence for jurors.
Calkins denied the accusations when interviewed by investigators, saying, "I will say fully and honestly that I was never alone with that young lady, who is like a daughter to me, at all the whole night," according to the Sheboygan Press. He was arrested after an investigation by the Sheboygan County Sheriff's Office and the Elkhart Lake Police Department.
Calkins remained in custody until a $150,000 bond was posted in May 2025. As part of the sentence that followed his conviction, the court also ordered that he have no contact with the victim or her family during his extended supervision.
What The Law Says
Under Wisconsin law, first-degree sexual assault of a child is a Class B felony, and courts impose bifurcated sentences that split time between confinement and extended supervision. For Class B felonies, confinement may not exceed 40 years and extended supervision may not exceed 20 years, for a total statutory maximum of 60 years. That framework is reflected in state sentencing rules and case law.
The sentence in Calkins' case, with 20 years of confinement and 20 years of extended supervision, sits within that statutory structure. See the State v. Radke decision on Justia and state sentencing statutes for background.
Where This Fits Locally
Lengthy prison terms for serious child sex offenses have appeared across Wisconsin in recent years as prosecutors argue that long stretches behind bars are necessary to protect the public and punish offenders.
In one example, a Crivitz man was sentenced to 25 years after a jury convicted him of repeated sexual assaults of a child, according to reporting by WBAY. Local prosecutors in those cases have continued to press for sentences they say reflect the gravity of the crimes.
Resources For Survivors
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, help is available. The National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-4673 and via online chat. Visit RAINN for contact options and local referral services.
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