By Kim McDarison
A Whitewater man has pleaded guilty to five counts of sex assault of a student by school staff.
Anthony P. Hansen, 35, appeared before Walworth County Circuit Court Judge Kristine Drettwan on May 26 via video conference and entered guilty pleas in response to five counts of sex assault of a student by school staff that had been filed against him.
A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 15, at 10 a.m.
Two additional counts of child enticement, sexual contact were dismissed by the court, but read into the record, according to court documents.
Hansen was arrested last July by members of the Whitewater Police Department after they received a report of an alleged suicidal male.
At that time, according to information released by the police department, police alleged that Hansen was involved in an “ongoing sexual relationship with a minor.”
In addition, police reported at the time of the arrest that Hansen was an employee of the Whitewater Unified School District.
Following Hansen’s arrest, on July 25, 2022, the court set a cash bond of $10,000. On July 26, Hansen’s then-attorney, Michael Barth, asked the court to modify the bond, a motion to which the state objected and the court denied.
Hansen appeared in court on Aug. 16, 2022, at which time a preliminary hearing was set for Sept. 19, 2022.
On Aug. 26, 2022, documents report that the court issued a notice of arrest and the defendant was taken into custody.
Documents further note that the defendant had resigned from “Whitewater Schools,” and a “cash bond to cover both cases, plus new conditions,” was set. A new cash bond was set at $20,000.
With Judge Phillip A. Koss presiding, a new charge of one count of bail jumping-felony, was filed with the court on Aug. 30, 2022, with those charges listed as “dismissed, but read in.”
The defendant was prohibited from having any contact with any victims associated with the case.
A preliminary hearing and arraignment was held with Judge Peter Navis presiding on Sept. 19, and which time, Hansen appeared by video conference along with his attorney, Michael Barth, who appeared in court.
Detective Jacob Hintz was called upon to testify as a witness for the state. After hearing his testimony, the court found probable cause that a felony had been committed, and that the defendant likely committed it, and bound the defendant over to stand trial.
A status conference was scheduled for Nov. 7, 2022.
In November, 2022, prosecuting attorney J.J. Crawford, according to court documents, told the court the state had received an offer and needed time to review.
A status conference was scheduled for Dec. 20, 2022.
During the Dec. 20, 2022 status conference, court documents note that a counter offer was submitted, further noting that the defendant’s attorney “feels resolution can be reached.”
The court scheduled a 12-person jury trial for March 6, 2023.
In January, attorney Jacob Hilton appeared in court on behalf of the defendant. He requested that the trial date be reset “as he was just appointed,” the court document stated.
The court set a new date for a 12-person jury trial of June 5.
On May 22, attorney Ashley L. Renz was in court on behalf of the defendant. According to the court document, at that time, the parties stated that they were “close to a resolution.”
The document notes that the “court will set this matter later this week for potential plea and sentencing.”
A status conference was set for May 26.
On May 26, Hansen appeared via video conference with attorney Renz appearing on his behalf.
During the hearing, the defendant pleaded guilty to the five counts of sex assault of student by school staff.
The document notes that the plea was made “freely, knowingly, voluntarily and intelligently.”
After the plea was accepted by the court, the court canceled the jury trial.
The five counts of sex assault of a student by school staff to which the defendant has pleaded guilty are each of felony Class H.
A Class H felony in Wisconsin carries a maximum penalty of six year confinement, a $10,000 fine or both.
An earlier story about Hansen’s arrest is here: https://fortatkinsononline.com/whitewater-police-arrest-suspect-accused-of-sexual-relationship-with-a-minor/.
File photo.
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