Wisconsin Firefighter Accused of Sexual Assault During Transport

Posted by: Curt Varone August 17, 2012 0

A Wisconsin fire captain has been charged with sexual assault following a 13 month long investigation into allegations made by a minor female seizure patient.

Jodin D. Froeber, 37, of the Somers Fire Department has been charged with one count of sexual assault in the second degree. The incident occurred on July 19, 2011 while crews were transporting a 17-year-old girl having seizures to St. Mary’s All Saints Hospital in Racine

Captain Froeber administered diazepam to the girl and was alone with her in the back of the ambulance during the transport. Incident reports indicate the patient was unresponsive throughout the transport, but the girl claims she was awake but unable to open her eyes. She claims Captain Froeber groped her and that she heard a clicking sound that she believed was a camera taking pictures.

Captain Froeber’s defense attorney, Jonathan LaVoy, was quoted in the Kenosha News as saying “He absolutely completely denies assaulting this young lady… I think there’s some major issues with this case, and I don’t know the motivations here of this young lady. But I do know that it doesn’t add up, and this case will be highly contested.”

In the mean time, Captain Froeber has been suspended by the Somers Fire Department.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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