A 23-year-old La Crosse man was charged Monday in La Crosse County Circuit Court for attempting to have sex with a minor. Connor J. Horman faces felony charges of attempted second-degree sexual assault of a child and exposing genitals to a child.
According to the criminal complaint, a girl told La Crosse police that she and Horman began exchanging social media messages about a year ago. She said Horman told her he had just celebrated his 17th birthday and was attending school in La Crosse.
The girl said she made arrangements to meet with Horman at her residence Sept. 21. She told police she met Horman in the driveway, and the two planned to use a ladder for them to crawl through a window into her second-story bedroom. She said the plan changed before an adult who lives at the residence saw them outside. The girl said she and Horman ran toward an open field, but she turned around when the adult called her back.
When police asked the girl if anything physical had occurred, she said Horman hugged her shortly after they met and tried to “engage her in other stuff.” The girl said she pushed his hand away and that he didn’t pursue anything further.
The complaint says Horman sent the girl graphic photos of himself and attempted to pursue a sexual relationship after the girl told him she was 15.
Horman was released on a $2,500 signature bond with no contact with anyone under 18 except his biological child. He faces up to 23 years in prison if convicted.
La Crosse County Circuit Court felonies for September
Nicholas P. Smith
Nicholas P. Smith, 36, Osseo, was charged with fourth-offense drunk driving and felon in possession of a firearm. According to the criminal complaint, Smith was pulled over for speeding Oct. 3 on Rose Street in La Crosse, and a preliminary breath test recorded a blood-alcohol content of .082. He is free on a $2,500 signature bond with a no-alcohol provision.
Steve Rundio
Andre Miksis
Andre Miksis, 25, La Crosse, was charged with threatening an officer. According to the criminal complaint, Miksis threatened to shoot, punch and kick police officers who arrested him Sept. 29 for second-offense drunk driving. Miksis was released on a $2,000 signature bond with a no-alcohol provision.
Margo Prom
Margo E. Prom, 56, La Crosse, has been charged with two separate offenses of burglary to a dwelling. According to the first criminal complaint, Prom entered a town of Onalaska residence March 28 and stole a La Crosse Loggers cap. The second complaint charges that she entered a town of Farmington residence Sept. 27 and stole a can of Twisted Tea. She is free on a $5,000 signature bond.
Frank Aaron Wharton
Frank Aaron Wharton, 51, La Crosse, is accused of failing to register as a sex offender. According to the criminal complaint, Wharton is required to register as a sex offender due to an offense committed in Michigan and hasn't responded to three verification letters since April 2. A warrant for his arrest was issued Sept. 23.
Yousef F. Gilali
Yousef F. Gilali, 53, no permament address, was charged with operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent. According to the criminal complaint, Gilali stole a maintenance truck parked on Island Street Sept. 26. An employee recognized the truck leaving the scene and followed it to Ranger Drive, where the vehicle was stopped by police. Gilali is being held in the La Crose County Jail on $2,500 cash bond.
Steve Rundio
Jovan D. McNell
Jovan D. McNell, 31, La Crosse, has been charged with causing injury to an officer while resisting arrest. According to the criminal complaint, NcNell repeatedly ignored instructions of officers who responded to a Sept. 24 altercation at a Monitor Street residence. The complaint says an officer sustained a sprained thumb while attempting to subdue McNell. He is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on a $500 cash bond.
Ashley M. Little
Ashley M. Little, 26, La Crosse, has been charged with first-degree recklessly endangering safety. According to the criminal complaint, Little attempted to strike a person with a vehicle during a Sept. 21 altercation in La Crosse. She is free on a $1,500 signature bond.
Bradley M. Schwaegerl
Bradley M. Schwaegerl , 53, La Crosse, was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. According to the criminal complaint, police found Schwaegerl with 11.1 grams of methamphetamine packaged in four different plastic bags after a Sept. 21 traffic stop in La Crosse. He was released from the La Crosse County Jail on a $1,500 signature bond.
Steve Rundio
Dale Simon
Dale Simon , 40, Holmen, was charged with strangulation/suffocation. According to the criminal complaint, a woman told police that Simon punched her in the face and choked her for 30 seconds during a Sept. 20 altercation in Holmen. The woman was transported by ambulance to a local hospital but the extent of her injuries was unknown when the police report was filed. Simon was released on a signature bond.
Melanie R. Westurn
Melanie R. Westurn , 29, La Crosse, was charged with operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent. According to the criminal complaint, Western stole a golf cart from a campground in the town of Medary July 15 and drove it to Houska Park. She was released on a $1,500 signature bond.
Steve Rundio
Lucas A. Delorenzo
Lucas A. Delorenzo , 32, no permanent address, was charged with theft of movable property. According to the criminal complaint, DeLorezno entered a vehicle parked on 4th Street South in La Crosse Aug. 2 and stole several thousand dollars worth of military gear. The property was recovered two days later at Houska Park. Delorenzo was released on a $1,000 signature bond.
Michael Vandenbergh , 26, La Crosse, was charged with possession of a stolen firearm. According to the criminal complaint, Vandenbergh ditched a .9 mm handgun while police were pursuing him as a suspect in a separate burglary case. Police recovered the weapon and determined it was stolen in Richland County. He is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on $5,000 cash bond.
Dariyah K. Engram
Dariyah K. Engram , 23, La Crosse, was charged with burglary to a dwelling. According to the criminal complaint, Engram forced his way into a Jackson Street apartment in La Crosse Aug. 23 and stole $500. He was issued a $1,000 signature bond but remains in the La Crosse County Jail on a probation hold.
Travis S. McLaurin
Travis S. McLaurin , 39, La Crosse, was charged with child abuse/intentionally causing bodily harm. According to the criminal complaint, a teen-age girl told La Crosse police that McLaurin struck her in the face at least four times before grabbing hold of her sweatshirt and slamming her head against a car during a Sept. 7 incident. McLaurin was released on a $5,000 signature bond with a no-alcohol provision and no unsupervised contact with the girl.
Teresa L. Cheever
Teresa L. Cheever , 46, Trempealeau, was charged with fourth offense drunk driving. According to the criminal complaint, police identified Cheever as a suspect in a hit-and-run crash Aug. 14 at Coulee Golf Bowl and pulled her over a short time later. Police detected multiple clues of intoxication during a field sobriety test, and a preliminary breath test recorded a blood-alcohol level of .20. She is free on a cash bond.
Steve Rundio
Michael Vandenbergh
Michael Vandenbergh , 26, La Crosse, was charged with possession of a stolen firearm. According to the criminal complaint, Vandenbergh ditched a .9 mm handgun while police were pursuing him as a suspect in a separate burglary case. Police recovered the weapon and determined it was stolen in Richland County. He is being held in the La Crosse County Jail on $5,000 cash bond.
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