Judge Says Priest Sex Case Can Move Forward: Report

WAUKESHA, WI -- A Waukesha County judge has determined there is enough evidence to move forward with a potential trial in the case of a Pewaukee Catholic priest accused of groping a 13-year-old girl.

That priest, Charles Hanel, pastor of Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, strongly denies the allegations against him.

He has been formally charged with second-degree sexual assault of a child. If convicted, Hanel could face up to 40 years in prison.

Hanel was arrested in September. According to the criminal complaint filed in Waukesha County, the alleged victim told authorities that Hanel had inappropriate contact with her while she was in a confessional booth in Dec. 2017.

According to the complaint, the victim, who was 13 years old at the time, told investigators among other things that "she feels [Father] Hanel looks at her in a different way than the other girls...making her feel uncomfortable."

According to the criminal complaint, the girl's parents told a visiting priest about the situation in early 2018. That priest then reported the incident to the Milwaukee Archdiocese, and authorities in Waukesha. Hanel was on a sabbatical and away from the church when the child's parents came forward, according to the complaint. He has served as the church's pastor since January 2014.

Hanel has publicly and strongly denied the allegations, stating in the criminal complaint that, "If something like that would have happened, I would remember it, and I would not have done something like that accidentally, either. I just wouldn't do that."

This past week a criminal complaint was filed against the Rev. Charles Hanel Pastor of Queen of Apostles Church in Pewaukee, Wisc., for sexual assault of a child. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance next month.#RomanCatholicAbuse #SacrilegeSunday #CatholicChurch pic.twitter.com/AW0iHIi6kb
— Walter Klingler (@WalterKlingler) September" class="redactor-linkify-object">https://twitter.com/WalterKlin... 9, 2018

Shortly after his initial appearance in September, he issued the following statement:

"I have never hurt or abused a minor in my over 35 years of priesthood, nor have I ever contemplated doing so. In the meantime, as this process plays out I will continue to pray for my accuser and her family every day, even though I am innocent of this crime."

The Archdiocese of Milwaukee stated that they would cooperate with investigators, as the criminal justice process continues in earnest. The Archdiocese said that no other allegations have been filed against Hanel.

Hanel next appears in court on Jan. 15 for his arraignment.

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