By Associated Press
Wisconsin – The founder of the Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua has been sentenced to nine months in jail for sexually assaulting a 56-year-old woman. Warren P. Nelson was artistic director of and a regular performer at the Big Top, the annual spring-through-fall music venue he founded under a large tent at Mount Ashwabay. The shows were broadcast nationwide on public radio.
The 62-year-old pleaded no contest to misdemeanor Fourth-Degree Sexual Assault and two counts of misdemeanor Battery. A more serious charge of felony Second-Degree Assault was dismissed.
Before being sentenced Wednesday, Nelson apologized to his victim and fans of Big Top Chautauqua. Judge Robert Eaton said nine months in jail would allow Nelson to do some 'soul searching.'