CC True Crime Minute: Wisconsin Nurse Has Sex with Patient and then Falsely Claims she was Assaulted

This is your true crime minute from courtroom confidential, your fast, no nonsense update on the latest true crime developments.

I'm your host, award-winning prosecutor and criminal defense attorney Joshua Ritter. Let's get into it.

A Wisconsin nurse who admitted to having sexual intercourse with a patient and then falsely accusing the patient of sexual assault was sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Melissa Kanutsen played guilty to misconduct in public office and obstructing an officer that Monroe County District Attorney's Office said in a press release.

Following her release from prison, Kanutsen will be subject to two years of public supervision.

Prosecutors said that while Kanutsen was working as a nurse assigned to a drug court participant, she repeatedly engaged in sexual intercourse with the patient.

The sexual encounters were subsequently reported to the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.

In response, prosecutors said Kanutsen accused the patient of sexual assault.

Eventually, Kanutsen admitted to fabricating the accusation and said she did so to avoid facing consequences for the sex acts.

Judge Paul Karan, who sentenced Kanutsen, called her conduct despicable and said she was an embarrassment to nurses everywhere.

The judge further said he believed Kanutsen's expressed remorse was a mile wide and an inch deep.

Quote the harm caused by Miss Kanutsen was deep and significant.

Not only did she violate the sacred trust between a patient and a nurse, but she compounded that by falsely accusing the patient of sexual assault.

District Attorney Kevin Kroninger said in a statement, this situation is particularly egregious given the patient in the situation was a participant in drug court.

And that's your true crime minute.

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