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Venezuelan’s sexual assault case, that brought Donald Trump to Prairie du Chien, may have to wait longer for trial

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FILE - Donald Trump on stage at the Prairie du Chien High School during a rally on Sept. 28, 2024 (PHOTO: Andy Parrish)

A Venezuelan native’s sexual assault case, that brought national attention to Prairie du Chien with a campaign visit from Donald Trump, may not head to trial just yet.

Attorneys may be given more time to prepare for the Crawford County trail.

A pre-trial hearing for Alejandro Coronel Zarate was held in Prairie du Chien on Thursday.

Coronel Zarate, who has a Madison address, was arrested in Prairie back in September for allegedly attacking a woman and her daughter. He also faces possible child abuse charges.

Government investigators believe he belonged to a gang in South America.

Trump campaigned in Prairie du Chien last fall, shortly after Zarate’s arrest, and brought up the case during a rally to criticize immigration policies.

An attorney for Coronel Zarate asked Crawford County Judge Lukas Steiner to allow more time to prepare the case, partly because of that another trial.

Deadlines for a trial in PdC may be discussed at a March hearing Crawford County.

Coronel Zarate is also charged with crimes in Dane County, where he has a trial set for April.

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.

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