Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Stephanie Rapkin, the 64-year-old Shorewood woman seen spitting on a young African-American protester, has been charged with hate crime, and a felony.
Rapkin, a lawyer who practices from an office in Mequon, was captured on video confronting protesters on Oakland Avenue June 6 who were urging her to move her car, which had parked to block the progress of a march.
She is seen spitting directly into the face of 17-year-old Eric Lucas. She was arrested twice -- for that incident and again the next day while confronting people who were chalking messages on the sidewalk outside her house. While being arrested the second time, police say, she kneed an officer in the groin.
That incident is charged as battery to a law enforcement officer, a felony. The spitting is charged as disorderly conduct, a Class B misdemeanor, but with a hate crime enhancer that makes raises the maximum penalty to that of a Class A misdemeanor -- a year in jail and a $10,000 fine -- if prosecutors prove the action was racially motivated.
The battery on a law enforcement officer charge carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison, plus three years of extended supervision.
Rapkin, who has been free on bail, is scheduled to make her initial court appearance on the charges July 24.
Contact Bruce Vielmetti at (414) 224-2187 or bvielmetti@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ProofHearsay.
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