Man Convicted Of 2 Sex Assaults Sentenced To 40 Years: Report

WAUWATOSA, WI -- A 29-year-old Milwaukee was sentenced to 40 years behind bars after police said he was the person responsible for kidnapping and sexually assaulting two women in two separate incidents in early September 2018 - one in Milwaukee and the other in Wauwatosa.

Court records show that Jovon Bethly pleaded guilty to first-degree sexual assault-use of a dangerous weapon, and second-degree sexual assault-use of force.

On Friday, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Joseph R. Wall sentenced Bethly to two 30-year incarceration periods broken down into two 20-year prison terms and two 10-year periods of extended supervision. He will also be a lifelong registrant on the Wisconsin sex offender registry, according to court officials.

In a statement, Wauwatosa police lauded the work of the department's officers, while also honoring the women who survived Bethly's assaults and came forward to help police make the arrest.

"The justice served today would not have been possible without the excellent work of our officers who initially responded to the scene, the investigators who quickly developed a suspect and diligently built the case, the officers who safely made the arrest, and the prosecutors who worked through the court process," Wauwatosa police said. "Most of all, we commend the brave actions of the woman who survived this horrendous attack, and provided the information necessary to bring this criminal to justice. When acts of violence like this shake our community, we can trust that all will work together to ensure the safety of those we serve."

According to police, on Sunday, Sep. 9, just after 10 a.m. the Wauwatosa Police Department responded to the Wisconsin Athletic Club, 8700 Watertown Plank Rd. for a report of a woman who was sexually assaulted and kidnapped by an armed man.

According to police, a woman was running with her dog north on N. 87th Street just east of the athletic club when Bethly got out of a gray minivan and abducted the woman, forcing her to go inside the van.

Police said that the woman was forced to perform a number of sex acts inside the van. The woman attempted to escape, however, Bethly struck her a number of times, and forced her to participate in additional sex acts before leaving her at the same spot from which she was kidnapped.

According to police, the victim came forward and helped police identify Bethly by the tattoos on his forearms and both of his hands. Police say they found Bethly and arrested him on Monday, Sep. 10, just after 7 p.m.

One week earlier on Saturday, Sep. 1, Police in Milwaukee were dispatched to the 900 block of N. 28th St. on a report of an abduction.

According to police reports, the woman was walking home with her boyfriend on the 2800 block of W. Richardson Pl. just before 8 a.m. on Sep. 1 when Bethly got out of his van and pointed a gun at the woman and her boyfriend.

Police said Bethly forced the woman to perform multiple sex acts before leaving her at the intersection of N. 27th St. and W. Kilbourn Ave.

When police questioned the victim, she told police that the man later identified as Bethly had tattoos on both arms and hands with distinctive markings.