UPDATE: Former Mayo Clinic doctor sentenced to 5 years in prison, 14 on parole in child sexual assault case
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(ABC 6 News) – A former Mayo Clinic pediatric cardiologist was sentenced to 5 years in Wisconsin state prison after pleading guilty to an amended charge of felony 2nd-degree sexual assault of a child in La Crosse County Court.
Joseph Thomas Poterucha, 41, also pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor 4th-degree sexual assault of a child as well, and was consecutively sentenced to 6 months in La Crosse County jail, with three days’ credit.
Poterucha will then serve 5 years in prison, followed by an additional 14 years on parole or probation, according to La Crosse County Court staff Monday, July 31.
Poterucha’s sentencing also requires him to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, avoid contact with anyone under age 18, and keep away from places where children gather, such as parks and schools, according to La Crosse court staff.
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(ABC 6 News) – A former Mayo Clinic pediatric cardiologist pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting children in La Crosse County Court Friday.
Joseph Poterucha - La Crosse County Sheriff's Office
Joseph Thomas Poterucha, 41, was accused of three counts of felony 1st-degree sexual assault of a child under 13 in October of 2021, according to Wisconsin court records.
All three charges dated back to October of 2019.
Prior to the charges, Poterucha, a Rochester resident, worked as a pediatric cardiology fellow at Mayo Clinic.
According to publicly record, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, Poterucha surrendered his license to practice medicine in the state of Wisconsin in November of 2021, and surrendered his license to practice in Minnesota a few months later.
Mayo Clinic ceased employing Poterucha in December of 2021, according to the following statement:
The safety of our patients is a top priority. Mayo Clinic Health System cooperated with law enforcement and completed an internal investigation. No evidence of inappropriate interactions with patients during his employment was found during both law enforcement and internal investigations. Mayo Clinic Health System ended its employment relationship with Joseph Poterucha in December 2021.
Poterucha pleaded guilty to one amended charge of felony 2nd-degree sexual assault of a child and two counts of misdemeanor 4th-degree sexual assault of a child in LaCrosse County Court Friday, May 26, according to Wisconsin court records.
His sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 31.