Former Mayo Clinic Health System Doctor Sentenced for Sex Abuse
La Crosse, WI (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man and former Mayo Clinic Health System doctor has been sentenced to five years in prison for his conviction on child sex abuse charges.
A Wisconsin judge also ordered a 41-year-old Joseph Poterucha to spend 14 years on extended supervision following. . He earlier admitted to second and fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct charges through a plea agreement with prosecutors in La Crosse County. He was originally charged with multiple counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct involving crimes that occurred in 2021 and 2019.
Poterucha, who worked as a physician for the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, was accused of having sexual contact with three young girls at a residence in La Crosse. According to court records, in at least one of the cases, it was alleged that he threatened to harm the victim if she reported the sexual abuse.
After the charges were filed against Poterucha, Mayo Clinic issued a statement indicating none of the crimes occurred on Mayo Clinic property. He was initially placed on paid leave pending the results of an investigation before his employment by Mayo Clinic ended.
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