News

As a result of an ongoing Criminal Investigation into allegations of sexual assault to multiple children, Nicole Prutzman, age 39, and James Prutzman, age 46, both of Wautoma, WI were arrested on August 11, 2025 and transported to the Adams County Jail.

Criminal Complaints have been filed and Nicole Prutzman has been charged with Sexual Intercourse with a Child, Two counts of Incest, and Repeated Sexual Assault of a Child. James Prutzman has been charged with Repeated Sexual Assault of a Child, 2nd Degree Sexual Assault of a Child under 16 Years of Age, and Three counts of Incest with Child. Further charges are believed to be updated as the investigation continues.

On August 13, 2025 James and Nicole had their initial appearances in Adams County Circuit Court Branch I, a cash bail for both Nicole and James was set at $50,000 each. At the time of this release, both Nicole and James remain incarcerated in the Adams County Jail.

Due to the gravity of the charges as well as the ongoing investigation, no further details or information will be released at this time. 

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Waushara County Sheriff’s Office.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the incidental taking of a rare lizard, which may result from the WRPCO Westwind SCA Trail Relocation Project in Adams County.

Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the species’ overall population at risk.

The Wisconsin River Power Company (WRPCO) proposes to relocate approximately 284.2 feet of its Shoreline Commons Area (SCA) trail, which was originally inadvertently placed on private property, onto its own property. Thirty feet of the relocated trail will be an elevated boardwalk connecting the SCA trail to the association’s existing stairway (for dock access). The trail not covered by the elevated boardwalk will have wood chips placed on the trail for easy maintenance.

The presence of the state endangered slender glass lizard is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of one or more lizards.

The DNR concludes that the proposed project is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within the state, the whole plant-animal community of which it is a part of or the habitat that is critical to its existence.

Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effects on the endangered species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the slender glass lizard are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR conservation biologist Stacy Rowe at Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the slender glass lizard by Aug. 26, 2025, to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

c/o Stacy Rowe, DNR Conservation Biologist

2514 Morse St.

Janesville, WI 53545

Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796