Pewaukee priest accused of groping a teenage girl in a confessional is bound over for trial

A Waukesha County Circuit court commissioner on Nov. 30 bound over for trial a 61-year-old Pewaukee priest charged with inappropriately touching a teenage congregant.

The Rev. Chuck Hanel is free on a $10,000 signature bond and due back in court Jan. 15 for his arraignment. Hanel stands accused of of second-degree sexual assault of a child.

A 14-year-old girl reported to police in April that Hanel touched her breast and leg in a confessional at Queen of Apostles Church in December 2017, when she was 13.

She also said in a criminal complaint that when she entered the confessional, Hanel closed the door behind her — something she said he did not do with anyone else, including her father, who entered the confessional before her.
continue at JS

1 comment:

William said...

These accusations could not have been made if penitent and confessor were in an actual confessional with partition and screen between. These new face to face arrangements, replete with scented candles and floral decorations (oh, yes) are a law suit waiting to happen. What is it about common sense that our clergy doesn't seem to understand?