The brother of Secretary of Health and Human Services and former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson has been charged in Winnebago Circuit Court with fourth-degree sexual assault for allegedly fondling a fellow Wisconsin Department of Corrections trainee.

Arthur Thompson, whose address is listed in Ridgeway, was also charged with disorderly conduct as a result of the alleged incident that took place July 22 on the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus. Both Arthur Thompson and the victim were trainees for the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and were staying at South Gruenhagen Hall on the campus.

Bill Clausius, a spokesman for the Department of Corrections, said Arthur Thompson no longer worked for the department “as of Monday.” He said the department had conducted an internal investigation into the incident, but declined to comment further, saying it was a personnel matter. Clausius did confirm that the woman still worked for the agency.

According to Clausius, Arthur Thompson had worked for the Department of Corrections since October 2000 when he was hired as a food service leader. He was promoted in July 2003 and had been sent to the Oshkosh Training Center.

Arthur Thompson, 54, could not be reached for comment as the phone at the address listed in court documents had been disconnected. Stephen Hurley, Arthur Thompson’s attorney, who is a prominent Madison criminal attorney, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

Tony Jewell, a spokesman for Tommy Thompson in Washington, D.C., declined to comment on the criminal charges, only saying that Tommy Thompson “loves his brother very much.” He referred all other questions to Hurley.

He made his initial court appearance on September 10 in front of Winnebago Circuit Court Judge Robert A. Haase, who entered a not guilty plea after Arthur Thompson stood silent. A pre-trial conference was set for October 20.

According to the criminal complaint, Arthur Thompson came to the victim’s room about 9 p.m. on July 22 and offered to help her study for an upcoming test. When the victim got up to get a glass of water, the complaint alleges Arthur Thompson “grabbed her by the arm and pulled her onto the bed and then reached over and grabbed her left breast.”

The complaint stated the victim gave Arthur Thompson “a mad look,” at which time he responded by saying “oops.”

Then Arthur Thompson allegedly “locked his arms around her upper body and began kissing her on the lips.” The victim turned her head from side to side to try and avoid Arthur Thompson.

“However, (Arthur Thompson) followed her head and when she opened her mouth in an attempt to say something, he put his tongue in her mouth.”

The complaint stated that the woman was finally able to break free and told Arthur Thompson “No, stop, I can’t do this.” She was able to break away from him and asked him to leave her room.

“He then asked her for a hug, which she refused and he then left,” the complaint stated.

The victim added that Arthur Thompson had put his arm around her while studying and at some later point, he began touching her legs and inner thigh, which “made her uncomfortable.” This caused her to get up and get a glass of water at which time Arthur Thompson allegedly fondled her.

In the complaint, an Oshkosh police officer is quoted as having talked to Arthur Thompson, who admitted kissing the woman and that “he felt bad about it the next day and he apologized to her. He stated he did not know what came over him, but that he grabbed (the victim) and kissed her.”

The officer stated that Arthur Thompson admitted the victim did not kiss him back, “but claimed she had responded to him” because “she had not pulled her head as far back as she could.”

If convicted on both counts, Arthur Thompson faces up to 12 months in jail and an $11,000 fine.

Arthur Thompson is the brother of Tommy Thompson, who served as governor of Wisconsin for 14 years. Tommy Thompson’s other brother, Ed, ran for governor of Wisconsin in 2002, coming in third behind Jim Doyle and Scott McCallum.

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