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La Crosse, WI (KROC-AM News) - A Mayo Clinic physician accused of sexually assaulting several children in La Crosse today entered not guilty pleas to three counts of first-degree child sexual assault.

During a court hearing this morning, 40-year-old Joseph Poterucha waived his right to a preliminary hearing. The judge assigned to the case also ruled there is probable cause to proceed with a pre-trial conference scheduled in early January. Court records indicate he remains free on $25,000 bail and is currently living at a residence in Rochester.

The charges allege Poterucha, who was employed by the Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, had sexual contact with three girls under the age of 13. The most recent alleged assault occurred in October when Poterucha allegedly threatened to harm the child if she reported it. The charges in the two other cases involve incidents that occurred in October of 2019.

None of the alleged incidents of abuse occurred on Mayo Clinic property.

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