Onalaska woman, accused of 6-year-old’s death, seeks to have $250k bond reduced

An Onalaska woman accused of causing a 6-year-old boy’s death through child abuse is trying to get her bond reduced.

Josie Dikeman has been in jail for a year-and-a-half in La Crosse County, while waiting to be tried for the death of Alexavier Pedrin.

Dikeman’s defense attorney, Christopher Zachar, is seeking a reduction of the $250,000 cash bond, as well as the dismissal of a child neglect charge against her.

La Crosse County Judge Elliott Levine on Monday postponed a hearing on the bond until next week, because La Crosse District Attorney Tim Gruenke was unable to attend court.

The trial is scheduled for August and is expected to last up to three weeks.

Dikeman has also made attempts to get the trial moved out of La Crosse, because of publicity about the case.

Dikeman had been living with Alexavier’s father, Derek Pedrin, and four other children, at the time of the death.