Readstown - A judge in Vernon County has entered not guilty pleas
for a police chief accused of sexual assault and misconduct in office.
Shay Larson stood mute in court Tuesday. He's facing two
felony counts and six misdemeanor charges. Prosecutors say Larson used his
position as chief in Readstown to leverage sexual favors while he was on duty
and lied to investigators.
The 30-year-old Gays Mills man was arrested in March.
Larson is Readstown's only law enforcement officer. He was placed on
administrative leave after an investigation began last September.
The La Crosse
Tribune reported that Larson's attorney, Luis Delgado, plans to file
a motion to dismiss the charges. Prosecutors say Larson encouraged a woman to
drive after she had been drinking to rendezvous with him at the village park,
among other accusations.