Six years in prison and six years of supervision follow guilty pleas in a case built on tens of thousands of texts and more than 100 notes.
HUDSON, Wis. — A St. Croix County judge on Dec. 22 sentenced former fifth grade teacher Madison Lynn Bergmann to six years in prison and six years of extended supervision for child enticement and sexual misconduct involving an 11-year-old student at River Crest Elementary School.
The sentence caps a yearlong case that began when a parent reported unusual messages on a child’s phone. Investigators later found more than 35,000 texts and a stack of handwritten notes exchanged between Bergmann and the boy, material prosecutors said showed grooming and secret meetings. Bergmann pleaded guilty in September to one felony count of child enticement and two misdemeanor counts of sexual misconduct by school staff. The judge said the length of the contact and the use of school settings to continue it justified a prison term. Bergmann, 26, cried as the ruling was read and apologized, telling the court she accepted the consequences.
During the hearing, the prosecutor argued for a 12-year prison term, pointing to the boy’s age and the volume of communication that mixed talk of “making out” with reassurances and warnings to keep the relationship hidden. Defense attorneys asked for a year of initial confinement and treatment, citing Bergmann’s lack of prior convictions and her decision to plead guilty. The judge reviewed printed excerpts of the messages, photographs of the notes and timelines assembled by detectives. “Teachers hold a position of trust,” the judge said. “You violated that trust repeatedly.” The child’s father told the court his son struggles with school and sleep and worries about seeing the teacher in public. The courtroom was quiet as the judge explained supervision rules that will follow Bergmann’s release.
Records describe how the case moved from suspicion to charges. After the parent complaint, Hudson police and St. Croix County investigators obtained search warrants for phones and messaging accounts. They seized more than 100 handwritten letters and pieces of artwork from Bergmann’s classroom and home, many addressed to the boy and signed with hearts. Interviews with classmates and staff helped place the communications in time. The district placed Bergmann on leave and, later, she resigned. Prosecutors initially filed multiple counts, including use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime. As part of the plea deal, they dismissed several charges and agreed to a three-count conviction while reserving the right to present the full conduct at sentencing.
The Hudson School District said it cooperated with law enforcement and reminded staff that personal texting or social media contact with students is prohibited. The district offered counseling supports and said no other employees are implicated. River Crest Elementary serves roughly 600 students in a growing community along the Wisconsin–Minnesota border. Parents who attended the sentencing described feeling stunned by the volume of messages. A longtime volunteer said the binders of printed texts were “overwhelming” to see. Neighborhood conversations have focused on how quickly concerns should be escalated and how to check a child’s phone without causing fear, residents said after court.
The judge’s written order requires Bergmann to register as a sex offender, complete assessments and treatment, avoid positions that involve contact with children and follow internet restrictions set by corrections staff. She may not contact the victim or the family and must stay away from places the child is likely to be without permission. The court granted credit for time served in county custody since her arrest in May. A restitution review could be scheduled if the family seeks therapy costs tied to the offense. The Department of Corrections will assign a prison and programming track, then transfer her to community supervision after her release.
For the community, the case closes with a clear timeline: a plea in late September, sentencing on Dec. 22 and post-sentencing reviews to come in early January. For the family, the process continues. In a statement read in court, the father said his child “will live with the consequences.” Bergmann told the judge she is “deeply sorry” and said she intends to participate fully in treatment. Outside the courthouse, a small group of parents said they hoped strict supervision would prevent further harm. Winter clouds hung over the courthouse steps as the courtroom emptied, and the file moved from the judge’s bench to the clerk’s stack for processing.
The case is now in the custody of state corrections officials. Next, prison placement and supervision conditions will be finalized and any restitution hearing set on the court’s calendar. No further hearings are scheduled as of this week. The Hudson district said it stands ready to provide records if requested by authorities in the future.
Author note: Last updated December 25, 2025.