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State trooper gets bond in sex assault
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MONROE - Wisconsin state patrolman James M. Norquay, 48, stood mute in Green County Circuit Court Monday on three felony counts alleging he repeatedly sexually assaulted a teen foster child whom he later adopted.

The Clarno resident was issued a $100,000 signature bond and ordered to have no contact with the now 18-year-old alleged victim in the case.

Acting as a special prosecutor, due to potential conflicts of interest locally, Assistant Attorney General Dennis R. Krueger sought the bond amount from Judge James R. Beer.

Krueger did not seek incarceration for Norquay.

"Mr. Norquay appeared voluntarily," said Krueger, adding that the defendant has known about the pending case against him for some time. "He's not a flight risk."

But Krueger argued bond should at least equal the maximum fine - $100,000 - of one of the felony counts against Norquay, who appeared in court with attorney Robert S. Duxstad.

Duxstad sought a bond reduction from Beer on behalf of Norquay.

"The amount of bond seems a little steep, your honor, considering Mr. Norquay has been a resident of the community for over 20 years."

Beer, however, sided with the state and ordered Norquay booked by the Green County Sheriff's department prior to posting the higher bond amount and released. Norquay also was ordered by Beer not to have contact with "female juveniles under 18," unless supervised.

Wisconsin Dept. of Transportation officials have said Norquay remains suspended from the state patrol without pay indefinitely - pending an administrative investigation.

According to testimony, Norquay has no money for a private attorney and will be appointed a public defender. Duxstad said he was appearing on Norquay's behalf for Monday's hearing only.

A criminal complaint filed Friday alleged that Norquay repeatedly assaulted the victim, who was placed in his home by Lafayette County Human Services in November 2008.

She was 15 at the time.

Prosecutors say Norquay eventually adopted the child in November 2009, and that one of the sexual assaults allegedly occurred a month later.

She is now 18, and did not appear in court. The complaint against Norquay says the victim "has been a past victim of sexual assault as a child and had made a false allegation of sexual assault against an adult male while under the supervision of Lafayette County Human Services."

A preliminary hearing in the case is set for 2:30 p.m. Feb. 16 in Green County Circuit Court.

The three counts against Norquay include: Second-degree sexual assault of a child, sexual assault of child by foster parent or treatment foster parent; and incest with a child.

Each charge is a Class C felony, punishable by a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on each count.