Man Guilty in Girlfriend’s Death Faces New Sexual Assault Charge

A man previously sentenced to 6½ years in prison in December 2015 for the death of his girlfriend in a crash, now faces a sexual assault charge in Dunn County. His 18-year-old girlfriend, Vanessa N. Marsh, died from a September 2014 crash in the town of Tainter.

Gunnar D. Zurek, 21 years old, has been charged with felony of repeated child sexual assault between October 2008 to November 2009. The girl was reportedly 6 years old at the time of assault, according to Leader-Telegram.

The Dunn County police revealed that Zurek fondled her repeatedly and forced her to touch him at a home in the town of Colfax. He is scheduled for an initial appearance on Tuesday for the sexual assault case.

The man listed under the Racine Youth Correctional Facility, allegedly threatened the girl that he would hurt her if she told anyone about the sexual assault. Zunker, however, denied the allegations.

Zurek was sentenced to a total nine years of supervision in addition to the prison time, three years of extended supervision and six years of probation. He will be required to spend a day in jail each year on Sept. 23 during the time of supervision, which is the anniversary of the death of his girlfriend.

Besides the sexual assault, Zurek pleaded guilty to felony homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle, knowingly operating a motor vehicle while suspended. He was extensively charged over causing great bodily harm, and causing a death while knowingly operating a motor vehicle.

According to WQOW News, Zurek's girlfriend, Marsh of Elk Mound was killed in late September when the car Zurek was driving veered into the ditch and rolled several times, ejecting her out of the car. According to court documents Zurek was under the influence of alcohol, at a level more than twice the legal limit.

Zurek also pleaded to several unrelated charges apart from the sexual assault charge, including felony burglary in Tiffany between July and August 2014. The charges include theft between July and August 2014 in a Colfax town, and criminal damage to property in September 2014 in the village of Colfax.

Tags

child sexual assault, crash, alcohol, Sexual Assault Charges, felony homicide, probation, supervision, felony burglary, criminal damage to property, Dunn County

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