If you're keeping track, this is the fourth Waukesha County coach to be charged with sexually assaulting a student.
That's not a good streak.
Another coach at Hamilton High School in Sussex has been charged with sexually assaulting a student. That makes two at Hamilton.
The latest is 23-year-old Matthew A. Pagel, accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl.
From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
A 23-year-old Menomonee Falls man who was a coach and Hamilton School District employee was charged Wednesday with sexually assaulting a student, the same girl whose accusations led to charges being filed against a different Hamilton coach last week.
It's the fourth time in recent months in Waukesha County that a coach has been charged with sexually assaulting a student.
Matthew A. Pagel was charged Wednesday with two counts of second-degree sexual assault of a child and three counts of sexual assault of student by school staff, all felonies. He also was charged with three misdemeanor counts of sex with a child 16 or older, according to a criminal complaint filed in Waukesha County Circuit Court.
Pagel, a 2002 Hamilton High School graduate, was a special-education aide during the 2006-'07 school year for the district and coached several freshman and junior varsity sports, the district said in a statement.
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case, Pagel is accused of inappropriately touching a 15-year-old female student in September 2006 and then having sexual intercourse with her in November of that year.
The last time he had sex with the girl, now 17, occurred sometime in summer 2007, the complaint says.
Waukesha County Sheriff's Department investigators learned of the allegations against Pagel while investigating allegations that the girl was sexually assaulted by a volunteer coach at Hamilton, Detective Steve Pederson said Wednesday.
That coach, John M. Jagla, 24, has been charged with sexually assaulting the girl, whom he met at a summer basketball camp, according to a criminal complaint filed in his case.
Jagla, who coached boys freshman basketball but no longer is a coach, was charged with one count of sexual assault of a student by school staff. He is accused of indecently touching the girl at his Menomonee Falls residence while the two were viewing the movie "Knocked Up," the complaint in his case says.
In January, Timothy J. Steimel, 25, of West Allis was accused of sexually assaulting four boys while he was a volunteer coach at Waukesha West High School. He no longer coaches there.
In late November, Todd J. Huth, 57, now of Kenosha, was charged with five counts of sexual assault of a student by a school staff member. The then-girls varsity assistant basketball coach at Mukwonago High School was accused of having sexual intercourse with a 16-year-old Mukwonago girl.
In less than three months, there have been FOUR cases of coaches sexually assaulting students in Waukesha County.
Is this the end or will more emerge?
Parents must be more than a bit concerned.
...On Wednesday, Court Commissioner Laura Florian Lau ordered Pagel to be held on $25,000 bail. She also ordered him to have no contact with the alleged victim or with Hamilton High School, no unsupervised contact with any female under 18 and no use of computers. Pagel is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
How will those conditions be enforced?
No use of computers?
I suppose Pagel is on the honor system.
..."This is a highly distressing situation," Hamilton Superintendent Kathleen Cooke said in a statement. "When rumors first came to our attention last week about an inappropriate relationship between an adult and student, we immediately referred the matter to the Waukesha Sheriff's Department."
According to the criminal complaint in Pagel's case, the girl stated that sometime in the summer of 2006 she invited Pagel to communicate with her through MySpace.com and that at some point along the way the relationship turned sexual.
Yes, this definitely is a "highly distressing situation."
Two coaches at the same school allegedly assaulted the same girl.
The girl admits that she invited Pagel to communicate with her on MySpace and the relationship developed into a sexual thing.
What incredibly poor judgment on Pagel's part!
It's not OK for an adult to have sex with a high school.
John Jagla also used poor judgment. According to the complaint, he didn't get as sexually intimate with the girl as Pagel did.
Jagla, a volunteer assistant freshman boy’s basketball coach at Hamilton High School, was charged after the girl told police she went to his Menomonee Falls home last month, according to the complaint. The two watched a movie and then kissed and touched each other over their clothes, the complaint said.
...The complaint said the girl and Jagla exchanged text messages and over time they became more flirtatious.
Jagla told authorities their contact went on for about five minutes, and then he stopped it because he knew it was wrong, the complaint said.
It's inexcusable for these men in their 20s to have become involved with this 15-year-old girl.
The girl also has shown some patterns of disturbing behavior.
In the final analysis, however, she isn't responsible. That's the law.
20 comments:
How can you say she isn't responsible? She opened her legs, she went to there places, etc. She sat there and let these guys do this to her knowing that they were over eighteen and that if word got out they would be in trouble. In my opinion the girl squealed on them to get herself out of the same amount of trouble. Granted the guys shouldn't have taken "advantage" of her. That doesn't mean, she didn't want it herself. If you actually knew the facts in each case you wouldn't be letting her sit on that pedestal. Now I'm not saying the blame should be put directly on her but she does deserve at least half of it. If you look at how many female minors actually allow this to happen with older men you wouldn't be so quick to judge.
I understand what you're saying. I don't have the girl on a pedestal.
That's why I point out that she displays some very troubling behavior.
That's why I say that under the law, she's not responsible because she's a child.
So, she's not the one charged with felonies.
It appears that she knew exactly what she was doing. It's very difficult for me to think of her as a victim.
My kids go to Hamilton. I know facts that the general public will never know, unfortunately. All I can say is that I feel sorry for everyone involved. This girl INITIATED AND WELCOMED the relationships. She is JUST AS GUILTY as these young men are, and they should plaster HER picture and crucify HER in the news just like them, and charge her with a crime too. She's not a victim, she's a vixen.
I attend hamilton high school and i think it is conpleatly bogus how the girl gets to walk away with nothing and the two coaches get all the charges brought against them. Yes a would agree they should have known better but it takes two to have sex. She opened her legs she is just as guilty! SHE WANTED IT!!! otherwise she would have went to the police sooner! She wanted it. She was exchanging text messages with Jagla and if she had sex more than one time with Pagel! That tells you something right there!
I think she as just as guilty as they are and she should get some kind of punishment as well!
My daughter attends hamilton and i have watched the news and had conversations with her about this situation and i agree with what people have been saying! I think they should post her picture up, just as they are doing with Pagel and Jagla! The news needs to stop saying she is 15 as well, she is not 15 anymore, she is 17, which was the last time they had intercourse last summer!
I am Hamilton High School Alum of the Class of 2003. In my time of attendance there, I got to know both Matthew Pagel and John Jagla on a personal basis. Through mutual friends, I especially got to know John Jagla. If I was asked to say what kind of guy he was, I would only have positive things to say about him. He was sweet, outgoing, and well-behaved. In fact, being a female myself, I never thought of him as a sexaul predator. Many times, when I was still a minor, Jagla would drive my friends and I to various places conducting himself as a total gentlemen. I did not know Pagel as well, but he had never had a reputation of being promiscuous compared to the many other boys he associated with.
In fact, when my parents told me about this story and spouted off their names from the paper, I was in total shock. My first thought was, "This girl is a slut." Why does the blame always have to be placed on the men?
Yes, they used poor judgement.
Yes, they thought with their dicks instead of their heads.
It takes TWO to tango.
But, how does the blame come totally lifted off the girl because she is a minor? By trying to avoid her own judgment, she is ruining the reputations of these young men. Do you really think any school will want to hire these guys after these proceedings, even if they are found not guilty?
As a female myself, don't you think I would be taking the side of the girl? I think is a prime case of female misusing the law to her own benefit. Many of the girls at Hamilton were sexually "adventurous" when I went to school there, often many of them going to college parties and hooking up with older guys. I see it now as I attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, many of the house parties have high school girls there... I know this because they constantly ask if the cops are there, afraid they are going to get caught for underage drinking. I see them hook up with older guys while they are still minors at these parties. How is this girl any different?
These are major charges against these young men that will have an effect on the rest of their lives. Yes, they should get in trouble for poor judgement... but not the the degree of these felony charges. Jagla and Pagel need support in order to overcome this.
Jaime
I knew both of the men, Pagel more. I was a co-worker of his. He always talked in an inappropriate manner to everyone. Including the underage girls whom he worked with as well. Though he never acted upon anything... I would have to say, I'm honestly not surprised with his recent actions, the age of the girl, yes I am surprised with that but not that she was underage.
Being a Hamilton Alumni and sibling of a current student I was alarmed when I heard news of sexual assault, but when I heard Pagel's name I was shocked! I had class with him and remember him as being an extremely nice guy! At first I thought, people change, maybe he just got creepy, but my sister told me stories about how he was a special aide teacher to a student in her class--about how nice he was to the student and to everyone! I just don't see how this is possible!
All I can think of is how so many people I know were having sex in high school--many with adult partners. I was when I was 17 as well! Yes, according to the law, this is not a legal thing to do, but it happens everywhere everyday! AND it was consensual! How is she getting away so easily! Actually I don't even care about that! What I am so distraught by is how this is going to ruin the rest of Pagel's life! How, if convicted, he will have to tell every neighborhood he lives in, have it on every job application, and won't be able to work at a school again--especially at what he was good at which was helping the disabled and being in the teaching environment!
I just really hope he isn't convicted!
The girl was 15 when Pagel first started with her, that is disgusting.
Apparently the people that new these 2 individuals didn't know them that well. I wasn't surprised at all when I heard who they were. Jagla saying that he knew it was wrong after 5 minutes is a joke. he was told months prior to stay away from that girl, but he was in love. Didn't have sex, either he is lieing to us or he is lieing to the authorities.
I'm not saying the girl isn't guilty, she's a slut, but the law is the law.Until she is 18 she is a minor.
If you all new the true facts, you wouldn't be so quick to come to the guys rescue.
I've been around the three probably more than anyone else on here. If ANYBODY knew all the facts, they would not be gossiping on here. They both were aware of the law, aware that what they were doing was wrong. Neither of them had good intentions; it is completely unbeleivable to me that you all are blaming this whole thing on an under-aged girl. An under-aged girl in her right mind would never want this to happen to her or to them; for just a moment you all should stop criticizing and try to imagine what she is going through. She's just a kid ... A 24 YEAR OLD MAN SHOULD NO BETTER.
I agree. There is sex happening in every highschool, some is legal but the truth is most is illegal. From what I have heard about everything ... Why call this girl a slut just because HER sex life is being put out in the media? There are plenty of other girls having sex with older men out there.
You're all full of crap! The girl is JUST AS GUILTY and come on, she DID know better, otherwise why invite Pagel to her MySpace page or go over to Jagla's house? Did someone FORCE her to do those things? A 17 year old girl can be manipulative and seductive and don't tell me she can't. Why did she wait over TWO YEARS to report what she is now alleging is ASSAULT? Because her parents caught her? Or was it the nice student athlete she was dating whose heart she broke when he found out about her affair with Pagel? The girl should have HER future RUINED AND TARNISHED just like Pagel and Jagla, and have her name on the sexual predator list too since she WILLINGLY PARTICIPATED IN UNDERAGE SEXUAL ACTIVITY for TWO YEARS.
Here's the thing Mr. Raddatz.. and any others who believe that the girl should be at fault. The fact remains that Wisconsin Law CLEARLY states that it is ILLEGAL for anyone over 18 to have any type of sexual interaction with anyone UNDER 18. Matt knew that.. so did John. They chose to do it anyway. She could have been sitting there with her legs wide open, but that does not change the fact that people under 18 cannot legally consent. Not to mention the fact that he was in a position of authority at that school, which, if she were 18, would make her consent void also. Does not matter what the circumstances were, just that Matt and John proved themselves to be EXACTLY as they were in high school.. sex driven and disregarding of the law.
Well, I hope you can live with yourself "Miss T", knowing you caused Matt Pagel to be sentenced to 3 years in State Prison and 2 years extended supervision. His life is ruined. He's marked as a felon and sex offender FOR LIFE, when you get to go on with YOURS like nothing ever happened. You wanted it, you got it. Good luck with the rest of your life, I hope the nightmares and guilt don't get to you too much.....
To all interested her parent's did know about her seeing Matt,I guess they somewhat tried to have her stop by grounding her from her car age 16. Miss T nor her parent told the school fond it becaues Miss T was tell the other girl of her fun night. If she is so upset could fool me in how she carries on even today. As for her parents statement at court sound good if it was the truth they had to blame Matt total what about themsevles. Miss T's just concered about the other students not wanting to have her around. Don't get me wrong the guy were wrong and stupid but she went looking for them she started both the hookups what part of she went to Johns house don't people understand. I understand the guys should have never done what they did some punishment I feel the judge was a little to hard on Matt considerng Miss T's behavior. She even went look for it on a weekend outing with a friend and the friend's parents and little sister Miss T can't stop herself. Who knows she may be on the same felon sex offeder list she only months away from become 18 and she can't control her sex needs. Maybe her parents should be seeking help for her problem and stop blaming the other people for their parneting skill. If your found drink at Hamilton there are penlties time out of a number amount of sports for certain amount of game Miss T should have some penlties she hurt the school district and All the students with her behavior.
So the girl is now dating a 19 year old but yet she is dramatized by the whole experience. BS! I look forward to seeing this girl with 5 kids on an episode of COPS.
FYI the girl is single, not that it matters anyways.
19 years old ... that's one year older than her ... what's your point?
You all need to get a life.
Life goes on and we all live and learn. before you point your fingers at someone, make sure your hands are clean too.
This girl came to Pagel's house and she knew exactly what she wanted the judge is really out of touch with reality. I understand the law but don't they have to look at the charcter of the girl. She won't stop. There is something going on in that house that needs to be looked at with the parents.
If anyone knows anything they should contact someone to help the family Matt has a brother and sister who have lost there brother because of her and her sex needs. How is that fair to them. I am not saying that Matt does not deserve a punishment for what he did but not 6 years and 7 years probation. Thats 13 years for that slut. She got what she wanted and everyone thinks shes the victim. What comes around goes around and I hope it comes around hard on miss T. No one deserves it more than her. She not only ruined Matt's life but his families life as well.
Wow, Jagla I can't believe you took your friend down and lied to the cops. You must have forgotten about all the morning visits before she went to school or when you were with her and then went to a party and told everyone. I cant believe what you did. What would her parents say if they knew the real truth something that neither one of you knows how to tell. We all know what a manipulator she is. How can either one of you have a clear consious with all the lies you've told. See you at the bars. Not to worry you will end up where you belong in prision. 3 years without drinking no way can you do it we all know what a drunk you are.
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