Former Waukesha County juvenile social worker indicted for possession and distribution of child pornography

A former juvenile social worker for the Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services has been indicted on suspicion of possession and distribution of child pornography.

A federal grand jury returned a two-count indictment against Bernard J. Trokan, 53, of Hartland on July 23, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

More >> Former Waukesha County juvenile social worker indicted for possession and distribution of child pornography

Longer stays in foster care prompt lawmaker's move toward easier termination of parental rights

For Marathon County foster parents who have been serving for a few years, they’ve watched firsthand as not only the number of children in the system increased, but also the length of time they were staying in foster homes.

More >> Longer stays in foster care prompt lawmaker's move toward easier termination of parental rights

Pro-CPS Propaganda: CPS caseworker in Outagamie County calls profession 'heartbreaking'

Because you need to understand what the other side is up to.

One of the mothers Brittany Plamann works with is pregnant with her fifth child -- and admits to using methamphetamines as recently as two weeks ago. It's Plamann's job to determine whether the kids living here are in danger.

As a caseworker for the Children, Youth & Families Division in Outagamie County, Wisconsin, Plamann has already helped by putting two of the kids in daycare, where one just took her first steps.

More >> CPS caseworker in Outagamie County calls profession 'heartbreaking'

• The disturbing, heartbreaking reality of Child Protective Services caseworkers

Social worker accused of watching child porn, offering minors cash for naked pictures

A Waukesha County social worker arrested last week offered to pay minors for naked pictures, WAOW affiliate WISN has learned.

Bernie Trokan is charged with possession of child pornography, and is now out of jail.

Trokan worked with children as a social worker with the Department of Health and Human Services for 17 years, but in the criminal complaint, prosecutors said he had disturbing child pornography on his cellphone.

More >> Social worker accused of watching child porn, offering minors cash for naked pictures

Waukesha County juvenile social worker arrested for possession of child pornography

A Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services employee was arrested Thursday, May 30 for possession of child pornography.

An undercover FBI agent in Utah, led local authorities to 53-year-old Bernard Trokan of Merton -- who serves as a juvenile social worker with DHHS.

More >> Waukesha County juvenile social worker arrested for possession of child pornography

Supreme Court Sides with Parents in Grandparent Visitation Case

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled against a grandmother who wanted more visitation time with her granddaughter, concluding grandma did not overcome a presumption that favors parental decisions concerning their kids.

Cacie Michaels and Keaton Lyons had a daughter together in 2009. They were never married and split up in 2011. As an infant and toddler, their daughter spent significant time with her grandmother, Jill Kelsey (Lyons’ mother), but the arrangement changed.

More >> Supreme Court Sides with Parents in Grandparent Visitation Case

Foster parent seeking change after she says she was poked by a needle found in a diaper bag

A Brown County foster mom says she was poked by a needle in a diaper bag. She not only wants the county to pay her out-of-pocket health costs, but she also wants a policy change.

The Szerkins Family says the county can drop off a child at their house at any time in an emergency situation.

More >> Foster parent seeking change after she says she was poked by a needle found in a diaper bag

Prosecutors say teens forced to use buckets for toilets at Oshkosh foster home

Two foster parents did not allow three teens under their care to leave their bedrooms and made them use buckets for toilets, Winnebago County prosecutors say.

Alan D. Small, 35, and his mother, Barbara R. Peterson, 60, both of Oshkosh, were charged Wednesday in Winnebago County Circuit Court with three counts each of chronic child neglect.

More >> Prosecutors say teens forced to use buckets for toilets at Oshkosh foster home

Adopted father charged with sexual assault after daughter is found in Wisconsin

A 14-year-old girl who disappeared from Tennessee more than two weeks ago has been found alive in Wisconsin and her father is now charged with rape, authorities said Thursday.

The girl is "doing fine," Sheriff Tommy Jones of Monroe County, Tennessee, said Thursday.

More >> Adopted father charged with sexual assault after daughter is found in Wisconsin

Kids missing from group homes a common thread in Milwaukee sex trafficking

Many sex trafficking victims in Milwaukee have a history of being reported missing from group homes.

Most have experienced significant trauma — such as witnessing or being the victims of sexual assault, domestic violence or child abuse — by age 13 or younger, according to Milwaukee Police Department reports.

More >> Kids missing from group homes a common thread in Milwaukee sex trafficking

Foster-care girl (10) tells police she dropped baby then 'stamped on his head to stop him crying'

A 10-year-old girl charged with killing a six-month-old baby boy told investigators she panicked after dropping the infant, and stamped on the child's head to stop the crying, a sheriff in Wisconsin said.

Handcuffed and wearing a leather restraint around her waist, the girl sobbed as she appeared in Chippewa County Circuit Court. A judge set bond at $50,000 (€44,000). State law requires the case, at least initially, to be held in adult court.

More >> Foster-care girl (10) tells police she dropped baby then 'stamped on his head to stop him crying'

Daniel L. Hatcher: Scott Walker confiscates millions from disabled and orphaned foster children

A Charles Dickens novel has come to life. Gov. Scott Walker’s administration has been partnering with a private company to search for foster children who are disabled or have dead birth parents — in order to take their money for state revenue. The state is even confiscating veterans’ benefits from foster children whose parents died in the military.

Contract documents obtained by public records request explain the practice. A 2011 contract signed with MAXIMUS Inc. shows that Wisconsin has collaborated with the company to maximize revenue obtained from foster children. In part of the contract focused on Milwaukee County, MAXIMUS has helped the state increase the number of children classified as disabled and to locate children with deceased birth parents — not to provide more services to the children, but so the state can take their resources.

More >> Daniel L. Hatcher: Scott Walker confiscates millions from disabled and orphaned foster children

Woman who bit foster child sentenced to probation

I'm sorry, this has to be said. 
This is what Jaba The Hut would look like if he was a deer caught in your headlights.

Kathleen Lyman was sentenced Friday to one year of probation for felony child abuse, for abusing and biting her 2-year-old foster child.

Lyman, 49, on Aug. 17 entered a no-contest plea to charges of felony child abuse, misdemeanor neglecting a child and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

More >> Woman who bit foster child sentenced to probation

Marshfield man sentenced to nine months in jail for molesting foster children

A 37-year-old Marshfield man convicted of molesting his foster children received a nine-month jail sentence Tuesday in Wood County Circuit Court.

John G. Hanley also received six years of probation for two counts of third-degree sexual assault of a child.  Hanley was convicted of the charges, which were reduced from two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, on June 4.

More >> Marshfield man sentenced to nine months in jail for molesting foster children

Siblings separated through adoption, reunite in Milwaukee

WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and Sports
Three siblings, each put up for adoption in the 1950s and '60s, reunited for the first time this week in Milwaukee.

Dennis Walter, Kerry Anderson and Ellen Kreger live in separate states, but discovered they are half-siblings.

More >> Siblings separated through adoption, reunite in Milwaukee

Former foster parent pleads guilty to sexually assaulting teens in his care

A former foster parent pleaded guilty Thursday to sexually assaulting foster children who were in his care and now faces the possibility of spending the rest of his life in prison.

Gary Reed, 65, now of Manitowoc, pleaded guilty to repeated sexual assault of a child and no contest to first-degree repeated sexual assault of a child. A third case with two additional counts of child sexual assault was dropped as part of a plea deal.

More >> Former foster parent pleads guilty to sexually assaulting teens in his care

De Pere woman charged with mental and physical abuse of adopted kids

A De Pere woman and former Wisconsin State Trooper has been charged with several counts of child abuse and neglect of her adopted children. The abuse allegedly went on for over a decade despite reports to police and officials.

More >> De Pere woman charged with mental and physical abuse of adopted kids

Additional charges filed against former foster parent

Additional charges have been filed against a former foster parent accused of sexually assaulting teenagers in his care more than a decade ago.

Gary Reed, 65, of Manitowoc, was initially charged in November 2017 with repeated sexual assault of a child.

More >> Additional charges filed against former foster parent

Marshfield Man Charged for Sexually Assaulting Foster Children

-A Marshfield man has been charged for sexually assaulting his foster children.

According to court records, 36-year-old John Hanley met with police and a social worker back in August. Hanley told them he had touched an 11-year-old while they were on the couch watching TV and he also touched a 2 and 4-year-old while they were in the shower. Hanley told authorities that he did it because he had been abused as a child and wanted to feel what it was like to be the aggressor.

More >> Marshfield Man Charged for Sexually Assaulting Foster Children

Former foster father faces more assault charges

Kenosha County prosecutors filed for more charges against a former Twin Lakes foster father who allegedly sexually assaulted children under his care two decades ago.

Gary M. Reed, 65, who was already bound over for trial, faces three counts of repeated sexual assault of the same child.

More >> Former foster father faces more assault charges