News

SAFE in Juneau County will be hosting a FREE community Narcan training in Wonewoc at the American Legion (108 Center Street, Wonewoc) on Tuesday, April 23rd at 5:30 PM. This training will teach participants how to take life-saving steps in the event of an opioid overdose. Participants will learn how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and administer the opioid overdose reversal drug Naloxone (brand name Narcan). The free training is open to all community members, and participants will leave the training with free resources, including two doses of Narcan. Additional trainings will be happening throughout 2024, and you can see those locations and dates at the registration link. Registration is required to reserve your spot and guarantee free resources. Register at this link: https://forms.gle/vAqSz86XCWp84y1P8. Please call 608-847-9373 with any questions

Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger announced today that
Mark Brooner, 53, was convicted by a jury on April 4, 2024 of 23 child sex offenses including counts of sexual assault of a child, incest, child enticement, causing a child to expose her genitals, causing a child to view sexual activity, and exposing a child to harmful material in connection with Brooner’s victimization of two children between 2008 and 2019. The convictions came after a four-day jury trial. The jury deliberated for approximately three hours before finding Brooner guilty of all counts.
Brooner was previously convicted in 1988 for the sexual assault of a child in Tomah. Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Sarah Skiles, who prosecuted the case, stated, “The depravity of Brooner’s acts is appalling. The jurors heard horrific and graphic testimony from the victims who displayed a tremendous amount of courage on the witness stand. We are grateful to the jury for the jury’s verdict which will ensure Brooner will be behind bars for a long time.” The investigation of this matter was handled by Detective John Brose of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Victim services were provided by Anje Schmitz of the Monroe County District
Attorney’s Office. The prosecution was supported by the staff of the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, including paralegal Sara Kast and Investigator Andrew Kuen. “The convictions in this case were possible because of the diligent and thorough work of those who investigated and
assisted with the prosecution of this case,” said Assistant District Attorney Skiles. Following the verdicts, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Richard Radcliffe, who presided over the case, revoked Brooner’s bond and remanded him to custody pending sentencing. Sentencing is tentatively scheduled for June 20, 2024. Brooner faces a mandatory prison sentence
of at least 25 years.

Hillsboro Police Chief Patrick Clark announced that on September 11th 2023, at around 1:50pm, the Hillsboro Police Department was informed about a minor who resides in Hillsboro, being sexually exploited on social media sites, the Hillsboro Police Department identified the suspect as 17 year old Pablo Lee Jimenez Cruz of Longview, Texas. The Hillsboro Police Department was assisted in the investigation and subsequent apphrension of the suspect by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department, Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Hillsboro Area School District, and the Longview Police Department. Authorities in Texas executed a search warrant at the suspects residence and took Pablo Lee Jimenez Cruz into custody, in addition numerous electronic devices were also seized.  Through this investigation it was further discovered that there were other victims in Illinois and New York.

Authorities stated that Jimenez Cruz will be charged as an adult in Texas. The investigation is still under investigation, with all the Hillsboro reports transferred to the Longview Police Department.  Hillsboro and the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department will also be referring charges locally on this suspect with the assistance of the Vernon County District Attorney’s Office. 

On behalf of the Police Department, we encourage you to have an open conversations with your children about online predators and the risk of talking to unfamiliar people especially social media.