10/17/2024

BAYFIELD - The judge presiding over a case in Bayfield County Circuit Court has called the defendant a dangerous individual and said the case of Brianne Nicoletti’s abuse and false imprisonment of her adopted son is one of the most disturbing cases she’d ever seen. 35-year-old Nicoletti was charged with locking the boy in his room, starving him to the point being emaciated and hitting him, sometimes with objects. The boy ran away from home only to be given back to Nicoletti, who cut up his winter coat to deter him from running away again. She was convicted of one count of child abuse intentionally causing great bodily harm, neglecting a child causing great bodily harm, causing mental harm to a child, and false imprisonment. Six other charges were dismissed but read into the court record. Assistant District Attorney Lynne Van Hollen said during the hearing that the system failed the boy and that a lot of red flags were missed.