‘A predator and a pervert’: Former hotel clerk convicted of sexually assaulting guests

SPARTA, Wis. (WBAY/Gray News) - A jury has convicted a 31-year-old former hotel clerk of sexually assaulting guests while he worked at a Wisconsin hotel.

Venkatesh Nalabothula was found guilty Thursday on charges that included second-degree sexual assault and burglary.

The convictions followed a four-day jury trial. Jurors deliberated for just over three hours before reaching their verdicts.

According to the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, the charges stem from incidents in October and December of 2023 at the Clarion Pointe Hotel in Tomah.

Prosecutors said Nalabothula used his position as a hotel clerk to gain unauthorized access to guest rooms and sexually assault two separate guests.

“Venkatesh Nalabothula is a predator and a pervert,” Monroe County District Attorney Kevin D. Croninger said in a statement. “He used his position as a hotel clerk to access guest rooms without the guests’ permission, so he could sexually assault them. The fact that he victimized more than one guest further demonstrates the predatory and depraved nature of his conduct.”

Croninger expressed gratitude to the victims for their resilience and cooperation throughout the case, adding that their courage prevented others from being victimized.

The investigation was led by the Tomah Police Department.

“The defendant was a sophisticated predator who believed he could outsmart law enforcement. He was wrong,” Croninger said, praising the officers’ thorough work.

Nalabothula has been held in custody at the Monroe County Jail since his arrest in January 2024. Following the verdict, Monroe County Circuit Court Judge Richard Radcliffe revoked his bond.

Nalabothula faces a maximum sentence of 165 years in state prison. A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled in Monroe County Circuit Court.