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.