Randy Poff Bound Over For Trial Under State's Sexually Violent Person Statute

LA CROSSE - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that La Crosse County Circuit Court Judge Todd Bjerke after presiding over an evidentiary hearing has found probable cause that Randy Poff, 40, is a sexually violent person.  The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) filed the state's petition to commit Poff to treatment on July 2, 2010. 

The state's petition alleges that Poff suffers from mental conditions that predispose him to engage in acts of sexual violence.  The petition also alleges that Poff is dangerous as his mental disorders make it likely that he will engage in future acts of sexual violence.  A petition is only an allegation and Poff is legally presumed not to be a sexually violent person unless and until the state proves him to be a sexually violent person.  The Court ordered that Poff be detained at a Department of Health Services facility to await trial on the petition.  This matter will be scheduled for future proceedings at a later date.

Assistant Attorney General Eric Defort represents the state in this case.