
A man who provided drugs to a girl connected with a 2017 gang rape was sentenced Thursday to two years’ probation as part of a plea deal stemming from a 2018 incident where he punched and kicked a woman and her car.
Ronald Crosby Jr., 19, Fitchburg, pleaded no contest to misdemeanor battery, criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct, all as a repeat offender, in front of La Crosse County Circuit Court Judge Gloria Doyle. A charge of armed robbery was dismissed and read in.
Doyle sentenced Crosby to probation after a joint recommendation from La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke and defense attorney Michael Hughes.

Ronald Crosby Jr.

Gruenke
Gruenke said the 135 days Crosby already served in the La Crosse County Jail were not sufficient, saying he had needs that would be met through probation. The district attorney pointed to Crosby’s previous conviction of fourth-degree sexual assault and delivery of heroin and two incidents he was involved in as a juvenile that included sexual assault.
“He’s gotten a few warning shots already in terms of how you treat women and what happens when you do things without their consent,” Gruenke said.
Crosby, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty last year to charges stemming from giving a teenage girl heroin. The 16-year-old girl told authorities that Crosby forced her to perform oral sex on Oct. 31, 2017.
“By supplying her the drugs and leaving her there doesn’t necessarily mean he sexually assaulted her, but he certainly didn’t help the situation or consider her wishes or her needs at all,” Gruenke said.
In this case, Crosby attacked a woman, leaving her with two black eyes, after she refused to let him use her vehicle.
“I fear if we don’t do something now, he might get in another relationship and something similar may happen,” he said.
Gruenke recommended Crosby receive counseling.
Crosby’s attorney agreed that counseling and probation were appropriate; however, disagreed on whether the vehicle was taken without the woman’s permission.
In an April 4 hearing, Crosby was ready to acknowledge his responsibility for the battery and damage to property; however, Crosby and the woman where sharing the car, Hughes said.
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