Content warning: This article contains information about sexual assault.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Caden Atkinson is facing two felony charges of second-degree sexual assault of a child under 16. Judge Ramona Gonzalez ordered a $5,000 signature bond for Atkinson on Feb. 12. Atkinson has been held in La Crosse County Jail since his arrest on Feb. 2 for a probation violation.
The 19-year-old’s preliminary hearing was held March 6 in the La Crosse County Circuit Court to determine if there is enough evidence of his charges to proceed to trial.
The judge presiding over the hearing was Judge Mark Huesmann. Huesmann was appointed in 2023 as a circuit court judge, before his appointment he worked as a trial attorney and full-time professor at UWL for 10 years.
Atkinson was represented by Attorney John Newton of Englund and Associates Law Office located in Baraboo, WI.
The State of Wisconsin was represented by Assistant District Attorney Susan Donskey.
Donskey called the first and only witness, Adrian Meyer, detective for UWL University Police.
Following questions from Donskey, Meyer explained he had been involved in Atkinson’s case when he was asked to follow up on an investigation of four juveniles who had been taken to the La Crosse Family and Children’s Center for forensic interviews.
Donskey asked about the findings of two forensic interviews, both with 14-year-old-girls. The girls visited Laux Hall on both Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, and on both occasions drank alcohol provided from Atkinson.
Meyer said the first girl had disclosed that while in Atkinson’s room he would “reach for numerous objects and intentionally brush his arm against her breast.”
The second girl to be interviewed had visited the evening of Jan. 31 and in her interview said she had gone into Aktinson’s loft in his dorm when she wasn’t feeling well.
“A short time later Caden [Atkinson] joined her up in the loft, where Caden kissed her, took her and placed her on top of him and then also took her hand and placed it on his penis,” said Meyer.
When asked if there had been any attempts to stop sexual contact from Atkinson, Meyer said the second girl had disclosed in her interview she had asked Atkinson to stop when in the loft.
Meyer questioned Atkinson at La Crosse County Jail. Atkinson denied having sexual contact with the girls.
“He did say if he was alone he might have tried,” said Meyer.
Attorney Newtown, representing Atkinson, confirmed with Meyer on the witness stand that the girls had not made any allegations of sexual assault until after they had been given underage citations.
Newton distinguished between between the girl’s “actual breast” being touched and her “breast area”. Meyer confirmed the girl said in her interview the breast area was touched over clothing.
Judge Huesmann ordered a bind over, meaning the court found enough evidence to proceed, and the case will move forward to trial.
Atkinson pleaded not guilty and a status calendar date was set at June 5, where the prosecution and defense will update the judge on the progress of the case.
