Former police lieutenant enters plea deal for sexual assault

Dennis Jens pleads guilty to 1 charge; 32 other felonies were dismissed

MADISON, Wis. — A former Mount Horeb police lieutenant entered a plea deal for the repeated sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy.

Dennis Jenks, 44, pleaded guilty to one charge Monday. Thirty-two other felonies were dismissed, but may be considered at sentencing.

Jenks was arrested last year after Madison police said he met the boy online and then started a sexual relationship.

A criminal complaint states that the boy told investigators he met Jenks on a chat website, and they met for the first time in September 2012. He said he moved in with Jenks in October, and stayed until the day Jenks was arrested.

Jenks told an investigator when he questioned the boy about his age the boy said he was 18. Jenks said he attempted, through various means, to confirm the boy’s age but was unable to do so. The boy admitted to police he used a false name, according to the criminal complaint.

The boy told police he remembered Jenks telling him he was not trying to be rude with regard to his age, but that he could lose his job.