State News

7/27    Deputies responded to West Commercial Street in the Village of Viola for a disturbance between two males. One male was accusing the other of robbing him. The males were separated without further incident.

7/27    A traffic stop was initiated near the 4800 block of State Highway 35 in the Town of Genoa. During the stop it was determined that the driver was impaired. They were transported to the Vernon County Detention Center and processed for Operating While Under the Influence.

7/28    A burglar alarm was activated at a business on Swiggum Street in the City of Westby. Sheriff’s deputies arrived to find a side door wide open and made entry to clear the building. A keyholder was contacted and arrived to secure the building.

7/29    A deputy was dispatched to a business on Jack Berg Lane in the Village of Coon Valley after receiving a report of a commercial burglar alarm activation. The deputy noted lights were on in the building. It was determined that an employee had possibly set off the alarm and the building was secured.

7/30    Dispatch received a call from a motorist who ran out of gas along State Highway 35 in the Town of Genoa. A deputy responded and transported the driver to a nearby gas station for fuel and helped him get back on his way.

7/30    Deputies responded to a residence in the Village of La Farge after a large dog that was running loose bit a child. The animal owner was issued a bite order notice pursuant to Vernon County’s Rabies Control Policy.

7/31    Deputies initiated a traffic stop on US Highway 14 near County Road GG for a speeding vehicle. The driver was cited for speeding 78 mph in a 55 mph zone.

8/1       A tow company was called to the intersection of US Highway 61 and Kickapoo Street in the Village of Readstown to collect a car involved in a single vehicle accident. The tow company contacted dispatch and stated the driver was no longer on scene but it appeared a rental vehicle had run through a stop sign and collided with the garage of a nearby property.

8/2       Deputies responded to a residence on Swain Street in the Village of Chaseburg for a domestic disturbance. Parties were separated.

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON AN ABOVE CRIME, OR ANY CRIME, CALL THE VERNON COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS AT 608-637-8477 OR 1-800-657-6868 OR SUBMIT AN ONLINE TIP AT WWW.P3TIPS.COM 

Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports the Sheriff’s Office completed an
investigation following information brought forward alleging that a registered sex offender
intentionally photographed minors in Vernon County.
In late March 2025, the Sheriff’s Office received a report from the La Crosse Police Department
indicating that during the execution of a search warrant at the home of a registered sex offender,
digital storage media was found containing photographs of minors, believed to have been taken in
Vernon County.
The investigation revealed that twenty-four victims, all minors, from three area school districts were
photographed during a sporting event in October 2024, in the Village of De Soto. All victims that
were photographed have been identified.
As a result of the investigation, Jonathan R. Staats, age 41, Jay Street, La Crosse, WI was identified
as the source of the photographs.
Findings of the investigation to date have been forwarded to the Office of Vernon County District
Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher for review. The Sheriff’s Office is recommending a charge of
Registered Sex Offender Intentionally Photographing Minors §948.14(2)(a) for each victim
photographed for a total of twenty-four counts. A charge is merely an accusation. The defendant is
presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
In November 2023, Staats was convicted of Trafficking of a Child, Party to the Crime, in La Crosse
County Circuit Court (2021-CF-832) and required to register as a sex offender for fifteen years.
Staats is currently facing multiple felony charges in La Crosse County (2025-CF-216) stemming from
a La Crosse Police Child Pornography investigation that began in February 2025 following a cyber
tip. The Vernon County photos were subsequently discovered during their investigation. Staats has
remained in the custody of the La Crosse County Sheriff since his arrest on March 25, 2025.
The investigation continues. If you have any information about this crime, or any other crime, call
Crime Stoppers at 608-637-TIPS (8477), or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com
Protecting a community’s most vulnerable members is crucial for a safe and healthy environment.

7/20    A sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to speak with a cyclist regarding a dark colored SUV that had driven unnecessarily close to a group of cyclists traveling on County Road SS.  The incident was captured on a cyclist’s taillight video camera. Investigation is ongoing.

7/21    A sheriff’s deputy initiated a traffic stop on US Highway 14 in the Town of Franklin after radar indicated a vehicle was traveling at 75 mph in a 55 mph zone. The driver was cited for speeding.

7/21    Sheriff’s deputies and officers with the Hillsboro Police Department responded to a residence on Pine Avenue in the City of Hillsboro after receiving a report of child abuse. The child was evaluated by EMS at the scene and released. The suspect was processed for Child Abuse-Recklessly Cause Harm, Strangulation and Suffocation, and Criminal Damage to Property and transported to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center.

7/22    A minor two-vehicle crash was reported to have occurred on County Road P in the Town of Clinton. Both vehicles were able to drive from the scene and reported no injuries.

7/22    Sheriff’s Office 911 Dispatch received report of a horse with a halter running loose near the 5600 block of State Highway 82 in the Town of Franklin. The owner was located and the horse was returned.

7/22    A traffic stop was initiated in the 3300 block of State Highway 56 in the Town of Harmony for a vehicle traveling 85 mph in a 55 mph zone. The driver was cited for speeding.

7/24    Theft of a package delivered to a residence on East Main Street in the Village of La Farge was reported. Investigation is ongoing.

7/25    Deputies responded to a residence in the Town of Sterling after receiving a report of a domestic disturbance.  The incident did not rise to the level requiring an arrest and the persons were separated. 

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON AN ABOVE CRIME, OR ANY CRIME, CALL THE VERNON COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS AT 608-637-8477 OR 1-800-657-6868 OR SUBMIT AN ONLINE TIP AT WWW.P3TIPS.COM 

7/13     Deputies responded to a call regarding the report of a passenger in a vehicle

pointing a gun at a motorist on US Highway 14 near Three Chimney Road.  The vehicle was

stopped, and the driver and passenger were issued citations for Disorderly Conduct.

7/14    Dispatch received a call about suspicious activity in the Town of Sterling.  The caller stated a person drove up to their shed and then took off.  The caller identified the person as a male with medium build wearing a black hat that covered most of his face.  It was reported others in the area have also noticed a male walking around.  A deputy responded and checked out the area but did not locate anyone suspicious.

7/15    A deputy responded to a call regarding an individual sleeping in a driveway on South Creek Road in the Town of Genoa.  The individual was located walking with her dogs a short time later.  She was provided with a ride back to her residence.

7/16    A downed tree blocked both lanes of traffic on County Road F in the Town of Forest.  Highway Department personnel were called, and the tree was removed from the roadway.

7/17    The sheriff’s office received a call about unauthorized entry into an unlocked home in the Town of Viroqua.  The owner stated they had been away from home most of the day and when they returned about five hundred dollars missing from inside the residence. The call remains under active investigation and anyone with information, or whom may have experienced a similar situation are urged to call the Sheriff’s Office or Crimestoppers.

7/18    Dispatch was notified of a vehicle that was swerving into oncoming traffic heading northbound out of Soldiers Grove. A deputy located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop near on West Kickapoo Street in the Town of Kickapoo and the driver also received a warning for Failure to Stop at a Stop Sign.

7/19    A deputy was sent to speak with campers at Blackhawk Park after report of a disturbance there. The campers were notified of quiet hours within the campground and apologized.

IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION ON AN ABOVE CRIME, OR ANY CRIME, CALL THE VERNON COUNTY CRIME STOPPERS AT 608-637-8477 OR 1-800-657-6868 OR SUBMIT AN ONLINE TIP AT WWW.P3TIPS.COM