Canton mayor faces child abuse charges after admitting to striking son

Joshua Nordsving, the mayor of Canton, Minnesota, is facing charges of child abuse after admitting to investigators that he struck his 9-year-old son in the face. The 34-year-old mayor is accused of hitting the boy multiple times during a confrontation, according to a criminal complaint filed in Fillmore County.

Authorities were first alerted to the alleged abuse in late October by the boy’s mother, who shares custody with Nordsving. During a custody exchange in Chatfield, she noticed bruises on her son’s face. The boy reportedly told her that Nordsving had hit him eight times. “He said that his dad hit him really hard, and he was scared to talk about it,” the complaint states.

When questioned by investigators, Nordsving admitted to hitting his son in the mouth with the back of his hand, saying, “I struck him too hard.” He explained that he was dealing with “ongoing behavioral issues” and that the situation escalated. Nordsving added, “I didn’t mean to hurt him like that. It was wrong.”

The boy later told a child protection worker that he feared Nordsving, saying, “I’m scared he’s going to blame me and say it’s my fault.” According to the complaint, the child expressed ongoing fear of punishment, which has raised concerns among authorities.

Nordsving is charged with malicious punishment of a child, a gross misdemeanor, and two counts of domestic assault. He is scheduled to appear in court on December 30.

Despite the allegations, Nordsving, who has been mayor of Canton—a town with just under 400 residents—since 2019, was re-elected in November after running unopposed. Speaking to local media during his campaign, Nordsving had previously described himself as “dedicated to the community and my family.” Now, however, his future in public service is uncertain.

Fillmore County officials have not yet commented on how the charges might impact his mayoral duties, but local residents have expressed mixed reactions. “We’re a small town. This kind of thing shocks us,” one Canton resident said. Another added, “He’s our mayor, but this is serious. If it’s true, it’s unacceptable.”