Monroe County Mental Health Nurse accused of having sexual relationship with patient

MONROE COUNTY, Wis. (WEAU) – A Monroe County Mental Health Nurse was accused of having a sexual relationship with a patient.
29-year-old Melissa Knutson was charged with four counts of 2nd-degree sexual assault by employee of child welfare agency or care/service residential facility and attempted resisting or obstructing an officer with intent to mislead.
According to a criminal complaint, On March 2, 2023, Sparta officers took a report of rape from Knutson that was said to have happened between July and October 2022.
Knutson reported she was raped by JLS. JLS said his nurse had an improper relationship with him and provided several screenshots.
Knutson was employed as a Monroe County Mental Health Nurse with the Department of Human Services and part of the Monroe County Drug Count. JLS was one of the participants.
Knutson stated JLS made threats to hurt her and her family.
In November 2022, she received a letter from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services saying there was a complaint filed against her. Due to the stress, Knutson gave her notice at the end of October and took a different position and Vernon Memorial Hospital.
JLS continued to make threats and contacted her husband and mother-in-law to tell them they were having an affair.
In February of 2023, another complaint was filed by JLS with the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services against her.
Knutson said she didn’t file charges against him right away because of the threats he made. She knew of his history and criminal record and feared what he might do to her or her family.
A detective spoke to JLS where he told the detective he and Knutson were talking for some time. Some messages included how her life was trash and that she and her husband planned to divorce. She told JLS she liked him since the first time she met him and they continued to talk for some time.
JLS was the one to end the relationship with Knutson after she ghosted him. She did not take the breakup well and felt JLS would report the relationship to Monroe County.
On August 15, 2023, a Lieutenant went to Stoney Creek Hotel and spoke to the manager who was able to provide two dates and invoices, one from JLS and one from Knutson.
JLS became homeless shortly after he graduated from drug court and was hard to locate. On August 28, 2024, the Lieutenant found out JLS was in the Monroe County Jail and went to interview him.
JLS said he started to block Knutson on everything to concentrate on his recovery, having to eventually get a new phone.
There were three people who knew about their relationship.
JLS said he saved the messages between them because he saw the danger of being with a nurse and that someone would believe everything she said because of her status. JLS shared those records with the Lieutenant on October 23, 2024.
A review of records from Monroe County Human Services reflected that Knutson provided treatment to JLS on September 7, 2022.
A cash bond was set at $2,500 with the condition that Knutson can’t act or work as a healthcare agent or a health worker.
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