Dec. 24—CANTON, Minn. — The mayor of Canton, Minnesota, is facing misdemeanor charges of child abuse in Fillmore County.
According to a criminal complaint filed against Joshua Nordsving, of Canton, a woman who shares custody of a 9-year-old child with Nordsving contacted the Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office the day after she noticed bruising on the child’s face when she picked up the child in Chatfield on Oct. 26, 2024.
According to court documents, Nordsving told a Fillmore County Sheriff’s deputy he struck the child in the face and admitted that he had struck the child too hard. Nordsving demonstrated a back-swing motion with his right hand describing how he struck the child.
Nordsving told the deputy he had been having ongoing behavior issues with the child over the weekend.
The woman provided the investigating deputy with pictures of the child’s face taken Oct. 27 showing distinct bruising on the child’s right cheek consistent with a handprint.
Nordsving faces a gross misdemeanor charge of malicious punishment of a child and two misdemeanor domestic assault charges. His first court appearance is scheduled for Dec. 30.
Nordsving was re-elected as mayor of Canton in the November general election. He was unopposed, winning 85% support with 116 votes.