State files it charges in child sex case

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office have formerly filed child sexual battery charges against a father of seven who has already pleaded guilty to federal charges of production and distribution of child pornography.

Monroe County authorities filed 17 felony and misdemeanor sexual battery and child cruelty charges against former Marathon resident Eric Cadogan, 39. The charges include child cruelty, sexual assault on a minor, lewd and lascivious behavior, contributing to the delinquency of a child, among others. The charges follow an investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office as well as the FBI and Office of the State Attorney, according to Sheriff’s Office spokesman Adam Linhardt.

Cadogan’s arrest warrant details several occasions in which he engaged in sexual act with minor children and videotaped minor children engaging in sex acts.

Cadogan, who last resided in Wisconsin, was previously arrested there by the FBI and pleaded guilty in federal court in March to distributing child pornography. He was sentenced in June to 20 years in federal prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release.

Deputies have also arrested Cadogan’s wife, Kia Lynn Cadogan, 34, formerly of Marathon and also of La Crosse, Wisconsin, in January on multiple felony aggravated child abuse and child sexual battery charges. Her case has yet to be adjudicated in the Monroe County court system.

Both suspects are former live-aboard residents of Boot Key Harbor in Marathon.

“Myself, and the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office, are committed to protecting the most vulnerable among us — our children,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “I want to commend the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Detectives and our law enforcement partners who worked to ensure these two suspects were brought to justice.”

Eric Cadogan remains in Monroe County jail on $2.225 million bond, while Kia Lynn Cadogan remains in Monroe County jail on $550,000 bond, according to Linhardt.