SPARTA, Wis. – The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office issued a statement this morning regarding charges that have been brought against one of its former deputies for an incident in La Crosse, Wis.
According to that statement, in May of this year the Sheriff’s Office was made aware of allegations of possible misconduct by Sheriff’s Deputy Aaron Yang related to domestic disturbance in the City of Sparta. The Sheriff’s Office says at the onset of these allegations, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office placed Deputy Yang on administrative leave.
Sparta Police Department investigated the domestic disturbance and charges related to it were sent to the Jackson County District Attorney’s Office for review. The District Attorney’s Office found there was insufficient evidence to sustain that a crime was committed by Yang related to that incident.
While investigating the first incident, additional allegations of illegal sexual activity came about related to an incident that allegedly occurred in early 2023. The La Crosse Police Department continued to investigate the allegations of illegal sexual activity that occurred in early 2023, which was prior to Yang being employed by the Sheriff’s Office.
The Sheriff’s Office goes on to say that on June 27, prior to completion of the internal investigation that was being conduct by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Yang resigned from his position at the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Yang was then charged in La Crosse County Court on July 2 for the incident that occurred in La Crosse.
The Sheriff’s Department statement does not give any details about the 2023 incident in La Crosse, but a criminal complaint in the case shows that on May 13, Sparta Police were dispatched to a domestic incident that involved Yang and his girlfriend. During the investigation, Yang’s girlfriend notified officers of the alleged sexual contact that occurred at his former residence in La Crosse.
When Sparta police interviewed the victim, who is now 18, she initially denied the allegations. She later confirmed that Yang had sexual intercourse with her in 2023.
The complaint says that Yang met the girl prior to the incident and asked her to babysit for him. The girl said the incident occurred sometime between February and March 2023.
The girl told investigators that the next day Yang allegedly told her that if she said anything about the incident he would deny it, and there would be “consequences” if she did. The girl stated she did not babysit again for Yang until the fall of 2023. The two were in contact after that but did not see each other again until April 2024.
Investigators obtained messages exchanged between Yang and the girl.
La Crosse police were notified by Sparta of the incident on May 16 and also interviewed the girl. The complaint also states that before she was interviewed by Sparta police, Yang allegedly messaged her that officers might talk to her.
Online court records show Yang has been charged with two counts of third degree sexual assault (G felonies), one count of child enticement-sexual contact (D felony), and one count of sexual intercourse with child 16 or older, actor 19 or older (A misdemeanor).
Yang was issued a $2,000 signature bond in La Crosse County Court on June 2.
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