Posted June 07, 2005 West De Pere teacher pleads not guilty to sexual assault Green Bay Press Gazette By Andy Nelesen A West De Pere elementary school teacher pleaded not guilty to accusations he molested a second-grade special education student. Glenn Fitzgerald, 46, appeared before Brown County Circuit Court Judge Mark Warpinski and entered the plea to one count of repeated sexual assault of the same child. If convicted on that charge, Fitzgerald faces up to 40 years in prison. According to a criminal complaint filed in the case, Fitzgerald allegedly began fondling the boy in late 1999 and early 2000. The boy, now a high school freshman, testified in April at a preliminary hearing that the first encounter took place in the school locker room while the boy was in second grade. Fitzgerald allegedly fondled the boy over his clothes as the boy was sitting in a desk in the locker room as discipline for misbehaving in class. The boy testified that Fitzgerald molested him on five different occasions in varying degrees, including sodomy. Fitzgerald’s lawyer, Brian Maloney, said he plans to file motions seeking more information from prosecutors. Warpinski held off scheduling a trial until those motions are meted out. Fitzgerald, who is free in lieu of a signature bond, is expected back in court for the motion hearing July 1. He remains on administrative leave from the West De Pere School District. http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/news/archive/local_21332773.shtml |