(This story has been updated to add new information.)
Six felony child sex crime charges against a former Willow Creek Behavioral Health nurse were dismissed May 19 halfway through a jury trial, according to court records.
On April 25, 2023, Ysurf Shariff, now 37, of Mosinee, was charged with three counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child, two counts of exposing genitals to a child and one count of child enticement, all felonies. The criminal complaint accuses Shariff of committing sexual offenses against a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old patient in 2023.
Shariff denied the allegations when interviewed by police.
Shariff’s defense attorney Michael Covey said the charges were dismissed because “the prosecutor has a duty to dismiss cases if he doesn’t think he can prove them beyond a reasonable doubt and he followed that duty.”
“These are difficult cases and there are no true winners,” Covey said. “I truly believe in Ysurf’s innocence and this was the right result. But, I hope all involved find peace and are able to move on with their lives.”
A jury trial began May 19 and was scheduled to last through May 20. According to court records, a jury was selected, opening statements were made and the first witness testified for approximately an hour before all six charges against Shariff were dismissed on a motion from the Brown County District Attorney’s Office.
It is unclear why the charges were dismissed. The Green Bay Press-Gazette has reached out to the district attorney’s office and the court to learn more.
Minutes from the first day of trial say Deputy District Attorney Dana Johnson raised “some possible issues” at 1:18 p.m., after opening statements and a lunch break. After about an hour of testimony from the first witness, the jury was released to the jury room and the courtroom went off the record for about an hour. When the court returned on the record at 4:02 p.m., a victim made a statement, Johnson moved to dismiss the charges, and Brown County Circuit Court Judge Tammy Jo Hock approved that motion, citing “in-chambers discussion.”
Vivian Barrett is the public safety reporter for the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You can reach her at vmbarrett@usatodayco.com or (920) 431-8314.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Sex assault charges against ex-Willow Creek nurse dismissed mid-trial
Reporting by Vivian Barrett, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
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