Jerrol Ernest McFarland, the 49-year-old Onalaska man accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile in his care in January 2020, pleaded guilty to reduced charges Monday by way of an Alford plea.
McFarland was found guilty of fourth-degree assault with sexual motivation. He was sentenced to 30 days on electric home detention with four days credit for time served. According to the order, McFarland must be confined to his private residence 24 hours a day, seven days per week, except during any scheduled treatment.
As part of his sentence, which includes 334 days suspended from a 364-day term, McFarland must participate in a sexual deviancy evaluation within 30 days of his sentencing, and complete any recommended counseling. He must also not commit any new criminal law violations.
A two-year sexual assault protection ordered was entered on behalf of the victim.
The Alford plea allowed McFarland to maintain his innocence while accepting the reduced charges. He was originally charged with third-degree child molestation and third-degree rape of a child on March 18, 2024.
In a written statement dated Sept. 22, McFarland said, “I am choosing to plead guilty pursuant to Alford, meaning that while I do not agree with alleged facts in the Probable Cause statement, I agree that if a judge or jury heard those facts and if they believed them, I would likely be convicted. I am choosing to make this plea in order to take advantage of the State's offer.”
A review hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6.
The victim originally reported the sexual assault to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office in January 2024 as an adult, according to court documents. She described multiple instances to law enforcement, and said that McFarland did not let her use her phone to call her parents while she was living with McFarland and his spouse.
According to court documents, the woman told investigators she did not report the assault when it first occurred “for fear of being kicked out of the house, being homeless, ‘or worse.’”
She told investigators she ran away from the home in February 2020.
McFarland’s spouse filed for divorce in October 2022. That case is currently on appeal.
