April trial scheduled for Colfax man charged with child assault

By LeAnn R. Ralph

MENOMONIE — A Dunn County judge has scheduled a trial in April of 2018 for a 42-year-old Colfax man charged with two felonies related to the alleged first-degree sexual assault of a child.

Jobert L. Molde appeared in Dunn County Circuit Court with his attorney Richard L. Yonko August 21 before Judge Rod Smeltzer.

Yonko told the judge the matter had yet been resolved, and his client was requesting a two-day jury trial.

According to the criminal complaint, the alleged victim, who was under the age of 12, told investigators Molde had sexual intercourse with her. Investigators believe the alleged assault would have happened between January of 2011 and January of 2012.

Judge Rod Smeltzer set a cash bail of $10,000 on January 24 and ordered Molde to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 unless an adult is supervising.

Molde posted the $10,000 cash bail February 3.

Colfax Police Chief William Anderson was called to testify during the preliminary hearing in February, and following the police chief’s testimony and cross examination by Yonko, Judge James Peterson found probable cause and bound the defendant over for trial.

Molde asked for a substitution of judge March 16, and Judge Smeltzer was assigned to the case March 20.

Judge Smeltzer scheduled the two-day jury trial in April of 2018 with a final pre-trial hearing scheduled for April 6.