Father, son appear together in La Crosse court on criminal cases; son pleads not guilty to elderly attack and minivan theft

A suspect in two recent La Crosse criminal cases entered not guilty pleas Wednesday to all charges against him.

Kavi Compan, along with his father, Jorge, are charged with severely beating a 78-year-old neighbor. The victim required a lengthy abdominal surgery as a result.

The man reportedly hit Kavi Compan’s younger brother with a rock — striking the boy in the head — after a group of kids allegedly threw rocks at the man and sprayed him with water.

The 18-year-old Kavi Compan also pleaded not guilty to stealing a woman’s cat and her minivan, and allegedly letting the van sink into the river, while he recorded it.

Both incidents happened earlier in July.

Kavi Compan allegedly sent the van owner a video of the stolen vehicle sinking into the Mississippi River, as well as a picture of the cat, which may have run away.

La Crosse police officers described the crimes during hearings in both cases on Wednesday.

Kavi Compan has future hearings scheduled in August and September.

Jorge Compan was also scheduled for a court hearing on Wednesday, but it was postponed because he doesn’t have a lawyer.

The older Compan briefly spoke in court, saying he has done nothing wrong and has a serious “life or death” health condition.