Daughter asks child abuse charges be dropped

Girl doesn’t want to harm relationship with family 

A child abuse case against a La Crosse man could be dismissed soon.

La Crosse District Attorney Tim Gruenke has moved to drop five felony charges against 45-year-old Paul Hawver.

Hawver was arrested last year for allegedly slapping his teenage daughter and slamming her head on the ground.

The girl claimed that her father and her stepmother had punished her for sneaking out of the house by boarding up her bedroom window, and then took her clothes when she tried taking down the boards.

She has asked to have the charges dismissed because she does not want to harm her relationship with family members.

A motion filed by the prosecution says dismissing the case is in the best interests of the teenager.

The motion is awaiting the signature of Judge Elliot Levine, who was away from the courthouse last week.