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Senator Says Allegations Of Massive Sexual Assault At Tomah VA Are ‘Disturbing’

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Jonah Bennett Contributor
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Republican Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said Wednesday that the jailing of a Tomah Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee for alleged second-degree sexual assault is “deeply disturbing.”

First reported by The Daily Caller News Foundation Tuesday evening, the LaCrosse Tribune confirmed the employee in question is Charles Davis, a 47-year-old mental health peer specialist at the facility, who was arrested and then subsequently released on bond Tuesday. He is scheduled to appear back in court Jan. 25, where he will face criminal charges.

Davis was charged by police with second-degree sexual assault, lewd and lascivious behavior, intentional mistreatment of a vulnerable adult, among other charges.

Second-degree sexual assault is a felony in Wisconsin, meaning Davis could spend up to 20 years in prison, and that’s based off of only one of the seven charges.

“Employees, there has been an unfortunate incident in our medical center,” a statement from Tomah’s acting director reads. “I wanted you to be aware in an effort to be transparent and foster trust. A Tomah VA Medical Center Mental Health Peer Support Specialist was arrested yesterday and booked into the Monroe County Jail. The employee faces seven charges and was arraigned in Monroe County Court this afternoon.”

Johnson, who is chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, commented in a press release, “If [the allegations] are true, and if patients at the Tomah VA suffered sexual assault, it would be an absolutely deplorable violation of the duty this nation and the VA owe to the finest among us, especially those seeking relief for physical and emotional wounds.”

“Nearly one year after serious problems at the Tomah VA came to widespread attention, it is of utmost importance that the VA protect our veterans from wrongdoers,” Johnson added. “I will continue to hold VA officials accountable while also addressing the other problems that have engulfed the Tomah VA.”

Johnson is still investigating the problem of opioid overprescription at the facility, which has led to the firing of three high-level facility officials.

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