Jan. 5, 2026
HILLSBORO, Wis. – A 37-year-old man from rural Hillsboro faces charges including strangulation and battery following a domestic disturbance reported early Saturday morning, according to the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office,.
Sheriff Roy Torgerson stated that the 911 dispatch center received a report of domestic violence at a residence on State Highway 33 in the Town of Hillsboro at approximately 12:30 a.m. on January 3, 2026. While the suspect departed the scene before deputies arrived, he was later located in the City of Hillsboro by an officer with the Hillsboro Police Department.
Authorities identified the suspect as James Ray Smallwood Sr. and took him into custody,. According to a report from the Vernon Sheriff’s Office, Smallwood was booked on allegations of strangulation and suffocation, battery, disorderly conduct and criminal damage to property. The report indicates he also faces charges of misdemeanor bail jumping, resisting or obstructing an officer and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration.
Smallwood appeared in Vernon County Circuit Court on January 5 where a judge set his bond at $500 cash. He is expected to return to court on January 7.
The Sheriff’s Office noted that Smallwood also faces pending charges filed in August 2025 for operating while revoked and tampering with or failing to install an ignition interlock device. He had previously signed a $1,000 signature bond regarding those earlier accusations.
Sheriff Torgerson credited the expeditious resolution of the incident to effective communication between dispatchers and officers in the field. He expressed gratitude for assistance provided by the Hillsboro and Viroqua Police Departments and the Sheriff’s Offices in Juneau, Monroe, Richland and Sauk counties,.
The Sheriff emphasized that his team is trained to investigate domestic violence and that support is available to victims through the Vernon County End Abuse Response Team. The investigation is ongoing.
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