74-year-old teacher faces 600 years in jail for sex assault on teen

A teacher has been convicted of sexually abusing a student and faces hundreds of years behind bars.

Earlier this week, a Monroe County jury convicted Anne N. Nelson-Koch, 74, of repeated sexual assault.

As per the Wisconsin State Journal, the former private school teacher was convicted on all 25 charges against her.

County District Attorney Kevin Croninger said that the condemnation stemmed from Nelson-Kock repeatedly sexually assaulting an unnamed 14-year-old boy during the 2016/2017 school year.

The trial took three days and the jury deliberated for five hours before finding the 74-year-old guilty on all charges.

The prosecutor for the case, Assistant District Attorney Sarah M. Skiles, said: “The victim of these crimes is an incredibly brave young man.

“He spoke the truth, and the jury heard him loud and clear. We are so grateful to the jury for their dedication to finding the truth.”

The former Tomah teacher was 67 at the time of committing the crimes while her victim was just 14.

Monroe County Jail

Investigation into the assault was led by Investigator Paul Sloan of the Tomah Police Department.

Regarding his work, Skiles said: “We could not have achieved this outcome without the victim’s strength and Investigator Sloan’s dedication and thorough investigation.”

The prosecutor asked Richard Radcliffe, the Monroe County Circuit Court Judge, if the 74-year-old could remain in custody pending her sentencing.

However, a decision was made instead to grant Nelson-Koch bail. She will now be fitted with a GPS monitor and her sentencing is scheduled for October 27, 2023.

According to Croninger, she could receive a sentence of more than 600 years in prison for her crimes.

Nelson-Kock is not the only offender to be sentenced to at least a century behind bars in the last year.

Last August, Edward Leclair, 57, was found guilty of five counts of sexual assault on a person between the age of 14 and 17.

After being convicted for his attacks he faced 100 years in prison.

However, instead of spending a century behind bars, he decided to take his own life.

According to a medical examiner, he reportedly drank a lethal concoction of sodium nitrite which killed him.

Speaking to The New York Times, lawyer Mike Howard said that his client killed himself when faced with the prospect of spending 100 years in prison.

“Had he waited another 30 seconds, he would have been in sheriff’s custody and not had access to that bottled water.

“He wouldn’t have been able to. So, you know, I think he knew.”

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 8am–10pm Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm weekends. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111.