
Southeast Minnesota Mayor Accused of Abusing Child Set to Make First Court Appearance Monday
Canton, MN (KROC-AM News)- A southeast Minnesota Mayor is set to make his first court appearance Monday in a child abuse case.
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The case against the small town mayor started in late October and the charges were filed in Fillmore County Court last month.
A Fillmore County Sheriff’s Deputy responded to the report of suspected child abuse on Oct. 27. The complaint says the victim is a 9-year-old boy.

Charges: Canton, MN Mayor Repeatedly Struck 9-Year-Old Boy in Face
The defendant in the case is Canton, MN Mayor 34-year-old Joshua Darin Nordsving. He’s accused of striking the child in the face eight times on Oct. 26, 2024.
The victim had bruising on his face that was noticed during a custody exchange on Oct. 27 in Chatfield. The charges say the abuse happened at Nordsving's home in Canton and was heard during a phone call the previous day.
During an interview with an investigator Nordsving admitted to hitting the child in the mouth due to ongoing behavior issues. The elected official admitted to hitting the child too hard, the court document says.
Nordsving is charged with gross misdemeanor malicious punishment of a child and two counts of misdemeanor domestic assault. He is ordered to appear by summons.
Nordsving won the Mayor’s seat unopposed in the recent election. He has served as Canton’s Mayor since he first won the seat in 2022, according to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.
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Gallery Credit: Carly Ross