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• Pierce County woman indicted in adoption scheme
• Pierce County Scoreboard
• Pierce County scoreboard

A federal grand jury in Madison has indicted a Maiden Rock woman on charges of wire fraud in connection with an adoption scheme.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office for western district of Wisconsin, Melissa Christensen, 31, has been charged in a 16-count indictment this week by a federal grand jury.

The indictment alleges that Christensen told several individuals that she was having a baby and wanted to put the child up for adoption. The indictment alleges that she never intended to provide a baby.

The indictment also alleges that Christensen received money from the victims for phone bills, travel, bail and other items.

According to the indictment, Christiansen contacted individuals in Texas, Arkansas, Virginia and Ohio about the adoption.

If convicted, Christensen faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison on each county.

The case was investigated by both the Pierce County Sheriff's Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Thursday, Aug. 28

Football

Gridiron Classic in Menomonie at UW-Stout's Williams Stadium

Elmwood 16, Whitehall 7

Thursday, Aug. 28

Football

St. Croix Central 34, Ellsworth 27

Cross Country

Boyceville Alumni Invitational

Elmwood girls ninth and Spring Valley boys 10th out of 11 teams. Elmwood boys and SV girls INCs. Chelsey Turner 19th for SV in 18:41, Katie Miller 26th for Elmwood in 19:26. Tim Talford for Elmwood had best Pierce County boys place, 29th.