Wis. man charged with sexually abusing teenage boy organizing youth softball tournament
MILLTOWN, Wis. (KMSP) - A former volunteer firefighter from Milltown, Wis. charged with sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy is organizing a local youth softball tournament while he awaits trial.
65-year-old Virgil Hansen is a well-known – and seemingly well liked –resident in the small city of Milltown, but he’s facing some very serious criminal charges including repeated child sexual assault, child exploitation and child trafficking.
BACKGROUND - Charges: Former Wis. firefighter tied up, sexually abused teenage boy
For the time being he is at home and awaiting trial -and organizing the 39th annual Youth Slow Pitch Tournament at Melgren Field, as advertised in the local paper. But while awaiting trial, he's not supposed to have any contact with children so some residents found his involvement in a youth tournament a bit concerning.
A Facebook post reads, "I feel sick to my stomach that they allowed this ad and thinking how many kids unaware are calling.”
The Polk County Attorney told Fox 9 they are investigating to see if there are any violations of the court order, but when Fox 9 went to Hansen's house to ask him about the tournament, he said his attorney did not see a problem with it.
In the criminal complaint against Hansen, the victim told police he was tied up and sexually assaulted over one hundred times.
Investigators say sometimes the teen would be hoisted up and dangled naked. The victim told police Hansen would beat him, touch him and call him a slave. Text messages released by investigators show Hansen would pay the boy to come over and allow the abuse. Police were eventually tipped off to the abuse by the boy's parents.
Hanson has denied all allegations against him. He says the teen lobbing the accusations made them up because he would not give him any more money. Hansen also said he did not even know if the normally popular tournament would happen. So far this year, only two teams had signed up.