Courts

Sexual assault suspect pleads guilty as victim’s family protests plea agreement

Published

3 years ago

February 11, 2022

A man in his 30’s who allegedly claimed to be 19 when he sexually assaulted a teenage girl has pled guilty to repeated assaults of the victim.

Thirty-nine-year-old Bruce Nelson of La Crosse reached a negotiated plea in court Friday.

Charges were filed in 2019, shortly after the victim, who was then 14, had a baby reportedly fathered by Nelson. The victim’s family picketed outside the La Crosse courthouse before the plea hearing, protesting a recommendation of 5 years in prison for Nelson.

Judge Elliott Levine says the sentence for Nelson will be determined in a few weeks, and could go as high as 25 years behind bars.

Nelson reportedly used the name “Tone McPherson” when he met the victim in 2018, and said he was 19. He was 37 at the time of his arrest.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.