Former Mayo Clinic doctor pleads guilty to sexually assaulting children

(ABC 6 News) – A former Mayo Clinic pediatric cardiologist pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting children in La Crosse County Court Friday.

Joseph Thomas Poterucha, 41, was accused of three counts of felony 1st-degree sexual assault of a child under 13 in October of 2021, according to Wisconsin court records.

All three charges dated back to October of 2019.

Prior to the charges, Poterucha, a Rochester resident, worked as a pediatric cardiology fellow at Mayo Clinic.

According to publicly record, the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice, Poterucha surrendered his license to practice medicine in the state of Wisconsin in November of 2021, and surrendered his license to practice in Minnesota a few months later.

Mayo Clinic ceased employing Poterucha in December of 2021, according to the following statement:

The safety of our patients is a top priority. Mayo Clinic Health System cooperated with law enforcement and completed an internal investigation. No evidence of inappropriate interactions with patients during his employment was found during both law enforcement and internal investigations. Mayo Clinic Health System ended its employment relationship with Joseph Poterucha in December 2021.

Poterucha pleaded guilty to one amended charge of felony 2nd-degree sexual assault of a child and two counts of misdemeanor 4th-degree sexual assault of a child in LaCrosse County Court Friday, May 26, according to Wisconsin court records.

His sentencing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. July 31.