MONROE — A former support staff worker at Monroe High School sentenced to 10 years in prison after already pleading guilty to sex assault charges will have to pay about $18,000 in restitution for the crime.

That was the ruling March 3 by Green County Circuit Judge Faun Phillipson. The hearing was conducted via video feed as the defendant is now serving his time at Fox Lake Correctional Center.

The money will come from the bond he posted, but $10,000 of that bond will be put in a separate account to cover future counseling and related victim expenses, the judge ruled.

Before the ruling, the defendant asked a question, wanting to know what type of account the money would be placed in and whether it was interest-bearing.

“It’s not going to be sitting in a vault, secure,” said District Attorney Craig Nolen. “It’s basically a trust account that sits out there for future benefit.”

Andrew Swanston, 32, was arrested in 2023. 

According to the school district, Swanston had been employed since November 2021 in a special education support staff position at the high school. Swanson reportedly told detectives he was drunk, had blacked out and did not remember touching the victim inappropriately. He also told police, before admitting to the alleged conduct, that he remembered merely touching the victim’s stomach. 

On Monday, the court signed off on the restitution agreement between the two parties, ending the criminal penalty phase of the trial.

After his arrest, the defendant reportedly also told police he wished he could take back what he did and that “[the victim] is right, I’m disgusting.” He further told investigators that the incident would not have happened if he had not been drinking.

In addition to the 10 years of initial confinement in state prison, Swanston will serve 10 years of extended supervision. Nolen said he also will have to register for life as a sex offender.

“Restitution hearings are proceedings where the victims request financial compensation from a defendant relating to expenses that they have or will incur as the result of a crime,” said Nolen, via email. “The state does not have an interest in a restitution hearing other than to assist victims in presenting legally permissible restitution claims to the court.”

According to court records, Swanston has no other criminal history in Wisconsin.