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Nurse Sentenced for Breaching Trust with Drug-Court Patient

3/3/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Melissa Knutson, a Wisconsin nurse with the Monroe County Drug Court, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for having sex with a drug-court patient, with District Attorney Kevin Croninger condemning the actions as a breach of nurse-patient trust.
She engaged in the relationship while administering Vivitrol, and text messages showed she initiated it and planned to deny it.
Knutson will also face two years of extended supervision.

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Story summary

Melissa Knutson, a Wisconsin nurse with the Monroe County Drug Court, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for having sex with a drug-court patient, with District Attorney Kevin Croninger condemning the actions as a breach of nurse-patient trust.
She engaged in the relationship while administering Vivitrol, and text messages showed she initiated it and planned to deny it.
Knutson will also face two years of extended supervision.