Eland man facing multiple child abuse, false imprisonment charges

State describes abuse of 8-year-old as “torture”
By: 
Tim Ryan
Reporter

SHAWANO — An 8-year-old child was put through “torture” at the hands of an Eland man who is now facing multiple charges of child abuse and false imprisonment, according to a state prosecutor at a court hearing Monday.

Nathan Pogrant, 36, has been charged with felony counts of child abuse, recklessly causing bodily and mental harm to a child, and six counts of false imprisonment.

Shawano-Menominee County Assistant District Attorney Catharine White told the court that what Pogrant did to the child amounted to torture.

Judge William Kussel, Jr. ordered Pogrant held on a $25,000 cash bond as requested by the state.

According to the criminal complaint, Pogrant had tied the boy to a chair in an improperly-vented basement on five occasions and once confined him in a closet.

The complaint also alleges Pogrant caused physical and mental harm to the child by strapping him to a chair in the basement for a day and two nights without providing adequate food.

The complaint states Pogrant also struck the child and injured him.

According to the complaint, a couple of passersby found the child walking along U.S. Highway 45 on Oct. 5 after the boy managed to escape the home and run away.

The complaint alleges Pogrant put the boy in a hooded sweatshirt and tied him with a cord to a wooden chair that had metal bars and straps.

The boy told authorities he would have to sit in his own urine after wetting himself.

The boy’s mother, who has not been charged, lives at the Eland residence with the boy and Pograntz.

According to the complaint, she admitted the sweatshirt was used “as a straight jacket” on the child over the past month, once or twice a week.

Pogrant could face a maximum 76 years in prison if convicted on all counts, if sentences were imposed consecutively.

He faces a potential 12 1/2 years in prison and a $25,000 fine for causing mental harm to a child.

The reamining counts of physical abuse of a child-intentionally causing bodily harm, physical abuse of a child-recklessly causing bodily harm, and six years and a $10,000 fine on each of the false imprisonment charges.

He is also charged with two counts of felony bail jumping, which carries the same possible penalty, and second or subsequent offense possession of marijuana, which carries a maximum 3 1/2 years and a $10,000 fine.

According to court records, Pogrant is scheduled for a jury trial starting Nov. 12 in Marathon County on felony charges of domestic abuse-related second-degree sexual assault-use of force and third-degree sexual assault.

He is due back in court for an adjourned initial appearance on the new charges Nov. 11.