Anthony Stancl and Bill O'Reilly

Tonight on The O'Reilly Factor, Anthony Stancl and his crime will be the topic.

What will New Berlin Eisenhower High School kids be watching on TV tonight at 7:00 -- FOX News and the Anthony Stancl crime story, American Idol, or Lost?

Maybe they won't be watching TV at all. Maybe they'll be doing their homework.

Maybe they'll be sexting.

Web of Deceit!

A teen is sent away for an internet sex scheme! "Is It Legal?" examines the online crime!

Tuesday, March 2:
• Teenager sentenced to 15 years in prison for Internet sex crime! Is It Legal? has the details

Anthony Stancl: 15 years

Anthony Stancl learned his fate yesterday.

He's going to prison for 15 years for the crimes he committed.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Anthony Stancl, who used the Facebook social networking site to deceive and coerce fellow New Berlin Eisenhower High School students into sexual acts with him in 2008, was sentenced to 15 years in prison and another 13 years of extended supervision Wednesday.

Waukesha County Circuit Judge J. Mac Davis imposed the sentence because he said Stancl had proven he was manipulative, excessively self-centered and could still be dangerous.

"I am afraid of what he can and might do," Davis said.

As outlined in the criminal complaint, Stancl, 19, of New Berlin, posed as a female on Facebook and persuaded at least 31 boys to send him naked pictures of themselves. He then used the pictures - and the threat of releasing them to the rest of the high school - to blackmail at least seven boys, ages 15 to 17, into performing sex acts.

Before the sentence was imposed, Stancl apologized to the victims and their families, the New Berlin School District, and his own family, especially a brother and sister who continued to attend New Berlin schools and faced what Stancl called a hostile environment.

"I put you through a terrible situation," he said.

District Attorney Brad Schimel asked for "substantial" prison time, without being specific. No victims spoke at the sentencing, but some had sent letters asking for substantial prison time. Some of the victims required hospitalization for suicidal thoughts, medication or have had to undergo therapy, Schimel said.

Defense attorney Craig Kuhary had suggested five years in prison and 10 years of supervision. He said that Stancl's crimes stemmed from his internal struggles with his homosexuality, especially after he was "outed" by an older boy with whom he had a sexual relationship in school.

"Once word got out that he was gay, everything shut down," Kuhary said. He went from being marginally popular as a member of the Academic Decathlon and golf teams to being isolated and feeling cornered.

Kuhary said that psychologists with long experience in testing for sexual deviancy concluded that Stancl was not a deviant, such as a pedophile. He said that while Stancl does need therapy and psychologists think he could be treated in the community, he deserves punishment for the harm he did to others.

Schimel said substantial prison time was needed because of the number of victims, the scheming nature of the crime and the impact on victims. He also said that the very nature of the crime - repeatedly coercing sex by extortion - was a pattern of deviant sexual behavior.

Schimel also cited a 2004 juvenile case in which Stancl, then 13, was found delinquent for sexual assault of a 3-year old in a home where he was a babysitter.

Who cares what some psychologists, alleged experts, concluded?

Stancl isn't a sexual deviant?

He certainly displayed sexual deviancy. If Stancl's behavior doesn't fall into a clinical definition of deviancy, then I think psychologists are working with inadequate categories. They need to establish one that fits Stancl's sexual abuse and perversion.

I don't buy the argument that Stancl himself was a victim. He was victimized by a society that doesn't accept homosexuals.

That's lame. Stancl wasn't driven by others to commit his crimes. He exercised his free will.

...Stancl, in the statement of apology he read, said he'd learned through the criminal case that what matters is how he treats others and what he thinks of himself.

He said he was working hard to treat others with respect, and he learned that there is nothing wrong with being different, whether dark-skinned or gay.

"I am determined to become once again a productive and law-abiding citizen," he said.

More victim drivel -- "dark-skinned or gay."

The president of the United States is "dark-skinned." Stancl was very involved in Obama's campaign. He celebrated Obama's victory on Election night. What's this "dark-skinned" crap?

Academically at least, Stancl is somewhat bright. We're to believe he just learned that there's nothing wrong with being different?

Oh, come on.

Stancl's uncle, Al Turk, from California spoke on behalf of the family saying his nephew and godson was loving, intelligent, athletic, a former altar boy and a technological whiz kid who worked at a software company while going to school and maintaining good grades.

"Like many young men his age, he's made a serious mistake," Turk said. Emphasizing his Catholic upbringing in a supportive and forgiving family, Turk said he remains a joy to his family who'll be there for him when his "penance" is served.

No, no, no.

Stancl is NOT like many young men his age. Thankfully, young men who make "serious mistakes" like Stancl are not common.

Stancl was initially charged with a dozen felonies, including repeated sexual assault of the same child, possession of child pornography, two counts each of second- and third-degree sexual assault, five counts of child enticement and one count of causing a bomb scare.

As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded no contest was convicted Dec. 22 of two felonies - repeated sexual assault of the same child and third-degree sexual assault. In exchange, 10 other felony counts were dismissed but considered in sentencing. He could have faced 30 years in prison and 20 years of extended supervision.

Davis banned Stancl from having any contact with the victims or their families, or the New Berlin School District, or any minors except with permission of his correctional supervisor. He must register as a sex offender and cannot use the Internet except with permission of his supervisor.

How is his use of the Internet going to be monitored?

That's silly.

...After the sentence was imposed, with Stancl taken immediately to prison, Schimel said outside the courtroom that he wasn't sure this case, with all its publicity, was getting through to kids because new cases of sexting have continued to occur.

"I'm just not sure they're hearing this message," he said. "I hope their parents are."

Parents need to keep an eye on what their children are doing in two different worlds, the real world and the virtual world, he said. Parents should take a good look at whether their children really need cell phones, or ones that take pictures, or text, he said.

I think it's important to remember that Stancl's case went well beyond sexting. Not to diminish the seriousness of that, but Stancl was convicted of sexual assault.

It's true that kids continue to do stupid and illegal things in cyberspace, in spite of these high profile stories.

Some haven't learned from Stancl's case. It's similar to drug use. A young person dies and others are scared away briefly, but soon return to the risky behavior.

Even when the consequences can be so dire, some kids, and adults as well, never learn.

About Stancl's sentence --

I think 15 years is appropriate. That's a significant amount of time lost. He'll be in his mid-30s when he gets out of prison. Stancl will be missing out on a lot.

2025.

Video, from FOX 6 News:
 

Anthony Stancl: Sentencing on February 24

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
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Convicted sex offender Anthony Stancl will be sentenced for his crimes on February 24.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The former New Berlin Eisenhower High School student convicted of using the social networking site Facebook to coerce male schoolmates into sexual encounters will be sentenced on Feb. 24, a judge decided Thursday.

Anthony Stancl was found guilty Dec. 22 after he entered no-contest pleas to two felonies that involved separate sexual assaults of two boys.

As part of a plea agreement, 10 other felony counts were dismissed but will be considered when Stancl is sentenced by Waukesha County Circuit Judge J. Mac Davis.

The 19-year-old Stancl faces up to 30 years in prison and 20 years of extended supervision when released from prison. Had he been convicted of all 12 counts, Stancl would have faced up to 176.5 years behind bars.

Judge J. Mac Davis has been lenient with Stancl.

I expect him to get a slap on the wrist.

I think Stancl knows he'll be given a relatively light sentence. Why else would he always be smirking and smiling during his court appearances?

Anthony Stancl: Guilty

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
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It's official. Anthony Stancl is a convicted sex offender.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Anthony Stancl, the former New Berlin Eisenhower High School student accused of using the social networking site Facebook to coerce male schoolmates into sexual encounters, was found guilty Tuesday of two counts of sexual assault.

Stancl was convicted by Waukesha County Circuit Judge James R. Kieffer after Stancl entered no contest pleas to the two felonies, which involved separate sexual assaults of two boys.

As part of a plea bargain, 10 other felony counts were dismissed but will be considered when Stancl is sentenced. No sentencing date was set Tuesday.

District Attorney Brad Schimel said he will ask that Stancl receive a substantial prison term when he is sentenced.

The 19-year-old Stancl faces up to 30 years in prison and 20 years of extended supervision when released from prison. Had he been convicted of all 12 counts, Stancl faced up to 176.5 years behind bars.

Schimel said in court that Stancl's victims agreed with the plea bargain and were pleased that a trial requiring them to testify was avoided. The case had been scheduled to go to trial in January.

I can understand why the victims were pleased that they didn't have to testify in a trial.

Stancl always had that in his favor. His victims would want to avoid testifying at all costs. Even after his crimes were exposed, Stancl still wielded a degree of control over his victims.

So Stancl could get 30 years in prison. Although District Attorney Brad Schimel says he'll ask for a substantial prison term, I'd be surprised if Stancl gets a tough sentence. I guess it depends on how one defines "substantial."

Video, FOX 6 News.

Tony Stancl: Freed on Bail

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
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UPDATE, December 22, 2009: Anthony Stancl - GUILTY, 2 counts sexual assault
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Anthony Stancl is no longer behind bars.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The former New Berlin Eisenhower student accused of using the social networking site Facebook to coerce male schoolmates into sexual encounters was freed on bail Thursday, a Waukesha County Jail official confirmed.

The bail for Anthony R. Stancl, 18, was reduced last week from $250,000 to $75,000.

From WISN:

Anthony Stancl could face life in prison for an elaborate sex plot, but now he's free.

Stancl is charged with 12 felonies including second- and third-degree sexual assault, child enticement and possession of child pornography, which carries a maximum sentence of 300 years in prison.

Police said he used Facebook to pose as a female and talked at least 31 boys into sending naked pictures of themselves to him.

Then, Stancl allegedly blackmailed some of them into performing sex acts -- often at New Berlin Eisenhower High School -- under the threat that he would release the naked pictures at the high school if they didn't comply, investigators said.

So Stancl is free because his parents put up $75,000. He also needs to comply with additional conditions.

An attorney for Stancl assured [Judge J. Mac] Davis that if Stancl is released from jail he will have adult supervision along with electronic monitoring with a GPS function.

...Davis said he will allow Stancl to complete his education but he can be on school grounds only for scheduled purposes and with adult supervision.

He will be allowed to go to the homes of his grandparents in West Allis and Hartland, his attorney's office, police departments and court.

Stancl would not be permitted to use the library, access the Internet or possess a cell phone.

Who's watching Stancl right now?

It's very late. People are asleep. So who's monitoring Stancl?

Who's making sure that he isn't on a cell phone?

If Stancl were a 40-year-old man and had posed as a female on Facebook to get at least 31 teenage boys to send him naked pictures of themselves, and then blackmailed some of them into performing sex acts, do you think there's any chance that Stancl would have had his bail lowered so dramatically? Would a 40-year-old charged with 12 felonies have managed to get released to mommy and daddy?

I don't think Stancl should be out of jail.

I don't think he can possibly be monitored the way he's supposed to be.

What's weird about the "adult supervision" stipulation is that it makes it sound like Stancl is a child.

He's not a child. He's eighteen.

Stancl is an adult and he should be treated like one.

Stancl: "SEXTORTION AT EISENHOWER HIGH"

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
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UPDATE, December 22, 2009: Anthony Stancl - GUILTY, 2 counts sexual assault
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Anthony Stancl, New Berlin's own, is in GQ!

In his case, however, it's no honor, nothing to brag about.

The August issue contains an in-depth story on Tony Stancl and his alleged blackmail scheme to coerce male students into having sex with him.

It's written by Michael Joseph Gross.

"Sextortion at Eisenhower High":

Last year, an awkward high school senior in Wisconsin went online, passed himself off as a flirtatious female student, and conned dozens of his male classmates into e-mailing him sexually explicit images of themselves. What he did next will likely send him to jail for a very long time.

Read GQ's take on Stancl's story.

The article concludes:

Brad Schimel, Waukesha County D.A., says he hopes the Stancl case will be "a two-by-four upside the head to parents," encouraging them to get involved in their children's lives online. Tony, whose lawyer declined to comment on the case, pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment in March. At press time, a trial date had not been set. None of the seven alleged victims indicate any willingness to take the stand, though, and Schimel would like to avoid making them testify. Most people in New Berlin would probably prefer a plea bargain to a trial. Says Michael Fesenmaier, "We just want to get back to normal."

But what does normal even look like anymore? The Stancl case, extreme as it is, offers an unsettling answer: What happened here is shocking because it was not all that shocking. In the beginning, when Kayla and Emily asked these boys for naked pictures, the majority of them thought little of saying yes. This exchange was within the range of what kids—lots of kids—consider normal. Online, a boy chats with a girl he's never met. Pants go down. Pictures are sent. And a chain of unpredictable, unknowable consequences is set in motion.

Whatever else he may be, Tony Stancl is an opportunist. He rode the big wave that more and more kids ride, out to a place where every flesh-and-blood kid is also a phantom, where adolescence isn't so lonely, where you don't have to wonder, Isn't there anybody who wants what I want? In this world, no IM goes unanswered—and for every teenager who types the question will u send it?, there is another typing, Yes.

Stancl's story isn't about teen angst and loneliness. The issue isn't what Stancl wanted.

It's how he got it.
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UPDATE, July 15, 2009: Bail lowered for ex-New Berlin student in Facebook coercion case

Anthony Stancl: Lower Bail

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
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UPDATE, December 22, 2009: Anthony Stancl - GUILTY, 2 counts sexual assault
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UPDATE, July 15, 2009: Bail lowered for ex-New Berlin student in Facebook coercion case

Bail was reduced Wednesday to $75,000 for the former New Berlin Eisenhower student accused of using the social networking site Facebook to coerce male schoolmates into sexual encounters.

Anthony R. Stancl, 18, will have additional conditions if he released from jail, Waukesha County Circuit Judge J. Mac Davis said.

An attorney for Stancl assured Davis that if Stancl is released from jail he will have adult supervision along with electronic monitoring with a GPS function.

Defense attorney Craig M. Kuhary asked Davis to lower Stancl's bail from $250,000 to $75,000. The parents were able to access $75,000 from their retirement account. They will also be required to pay the $20 per day cost for electronic monitoring, which they were able to secure through a private company.

Kuhary said Stancl would like to get his high school diploma, possibly from New Berlin West or Waukesha County Technical College.

Davis said he will allow Stancl to complete his education but he can be on school grounds only for scheduled purposes and with adult supervision.

He will be allowed to go to the homes of his grandparents in West Allis and Hartland, his attorney's office, police departments and court.

Stancl would not be permitted to use the library, access the Internet or possess a cell phone.

Judge J. Mac Davis does it again.
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Anthony Stancl, the former New Berlin Eisenhower high school student charged with "five counts of child enticement, two counts of second degree sexual assault, two counts of third degree sexual assault, possession of child pornography, the repeated sexual assault of the same child, and making a bomb threat," is seeking lower bail.

From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

The former New Berlin Eisenhower student accused of using the social networking site Facebook to coerce male schoolmates into sexual encounters will remain in jail for now.

An attorney for Anthony R. Stancl, 18, asked Waukesha County Circuit Judge J. Mac Davis to lower Stancl's bail from $250,000 to $75,000.

The parents were able to access $75,000 from their retirement account, defense attorney Craig M. Kuhary said.

Kuhary said Stancl would like to get his high school diploma and he would have adult supervision at all times. The parents also will not have any computers in the home or any Internet access.

District Attorney Brad Schimel said the bail should remain at a high level because Stancl, if convicted, faces substantial time in prison.

Schimel said Stancl would be a flight risk.

Davis asked Kuhary to look into electronic monitoring with a GPS feature from a private vendor to increase the chance that Davis may let Stancl out of jail.

Davis said he isn't promising that electronic monitoring will be enough to convince him that Stancl could be let out of jail.

Stancl will be back in court on July 9 for a decision on bail.

I think it would be crazy to lower Stancl's bail.

Suddenly, Stancl is interested in getting his high school diploma, as opposed to allegedly blackmailing classmates into sex. Does he need that diploma so he can start applying to colleges? Really?

I think Stancl and his parents need to reassess his situation.

Anyway, I'm sure he can work on getting his diploma from jail.

He can probably even still volunteer for Obama from jail. He could stuff envelopes or something.

I don't buy that Stancl would have supervision at all times. What about at night? Will one parent stay up and guard him? Would they take shifts?

And I don't think that having no computers in his parents' home would guarantee that Stancl wouldn't have access to the Internet.

The charges are so serious that I don't think Stancl's bail should be lowered. He's an alleged sexual predator.

If Stancl were a 40-year-old man, I doubt that Waukesha County Circuit Judge J. Mac Davis would even consider lowering his bail.

Then again, we are talking about Judge J. Mac Davis, notorious for bad rulings.

He reduced the bail of Mark Benson from $1 million to $500,000.

Benson was charged in the traffic deaths of Jennifer Bukosky, her unborn child, and Courtney, her 10-year-old daughter; but Davis enabled Benson to walk out of jail.

Not surprisingly, Benson violated the conditions of his bail and he landed back in jail about one week later. The bail of this repeat offender should never have been reduced in the first place.

Davis should NOT make a similar mistake with Stancl.

Does Davis really want another stain on his record?

Anthony Stancl Pleads Not Guilty

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
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UPDATE, December 22, 2009: Anthony Stancl - GUILTY, 2 counts sexual assault
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From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Not guilty pleas were entered Monday for Anthony R. Stancl, the former New Berlin Eisenhower student accused of using the social networking site Facebook to coerce male schoolmates into sexual encounters.

Stancl, 18, was arraigned on charges of repeated sexual assault of the same child, possession of child pornography, second- and third-degree sexual assaults, five counts of child enticement and one count of causing a bomb scare.

His attorney, Craig M. Kuhary, entered the not guilty pleas during a brief hearing in Waukesha County Circuit Court before Commissioner Thomas J. Pieper.

When it comes to the charge of possession of child porn, it will be awfully difficult for Stancl to weasel out of that one.

Stancl had 300 photos and movie clips on his computer of boys ages 13 to 19 from the school, [Waukesha County District Attorney Brad] Schimel said last month when charges were filed.

There's no way Stancl can claim all that material somehow mistakenly ended up on his computer.

As a senior, Stancl should be looking forward to graduation and getting prepared to enter college.

Instead, this supposedly intelligent individual chose to throw his life away. Eighteen and it's over.

Paul Kreutzer: "Everybody's from Eisenhower"

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
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UPDATE, December 22, 2009: Anthony Stancl - GUILTY, 2 counts sexual assault
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Last Friday, there were freshman, junior varsity, and varsity basketball games between New Berlin Eisenhower High School and Pewaukee High School.

With New Berlin Eisenhower still reeling from the Anthony Stancl Facebook blackmail/ sexual assualt case, it was a nice gesture for New Berlin School Superintendent Paul Kreutzer to offer a free ticket to the varsity basketball game for anyone wearing Ike's school colors, purple and gold.

New Berlin -- In a show of solidarity, New Berlin School Superintendent Paul Kreutzer is offering to pay the varsity basketball game ticket fees tonight for anyone who comes to the game wearing purple and gold - the colors of New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School.

...Kreutzer said he would be at Pewaukee tonight to pay for anyone who showed up supporting Eisenhower in purple and gold gear, whether that person was a student at Eisenhower or another school, or resident or a parent.

In light of a recent Facebook sex scandal that has rocked the district and community, Kreutzer said he wanted to find a way to nudge the people into coming together as a community and supporting the high school.

"I want to show that we're all together on this," Kreutzer said. "Tonight, everybody's from Eisenhower."

It may have helped students and parents from Eisenhower to wear the school colors and see others from the larger community wearing the colors as well. It's always nice to show support for each other. Whenever faced with a difficult situation, it helps to come together.

Although the scandal is shocking and it does impact the entire Eisenhower community, the people involved in the scandal are a relative few. Those involved are responsible for their behavior. What Anthony Stancl is alleged to have done and what his victims did doesn't reflect on the entire student population or all the people of New Berlin.

I think it's important to remember that this wasn't an accident or a natural disaster that befell the school. No superpower imposed its will on Eisenhower. This was a crime, allegedly. A former student, Anthony Stancl, was involved in criminal behavior, allegedly.

Stancl's victims, dozens of them, were duped into sending nude photos of themselves to Stancl. Although they gave him the photos under false pretenses, they did take and then share some very intimate photos of themselves.

There was a lot of bad and there was a lot of stupid that was going on among some of Eisenhower's students.

While the Eisenhower community does need to deal with the scandal, helping each other through this troubling time, I don't think Kreutzer's statement makes sense.

He says, "I want to show that we're all together on this. Tonight, everybody's from Eisenhower."

Well, no.

Obviously, everybody's not from Eisenhower.

This isn't the Cold War with John Kennedy standing before the citizens of West Berlin and pledging U.S. solidarity with them. This isn't the same as the fight for freedom against Soviet oppression.

In terms of the scandal, everyone isn't a sex offender and everyone isn't convinced by a predator to freely send off nude photos of themselves.

It's not a situation where it could happen to anyone.

Allegedly, you had a manipulative pervert soliciting online and dozens were clueless and careless enough to get caught in his trap to varying degrees.

But everybody's not like that.

Eisenhower is much more than the scandal. All the positive aspects of the school and the positive qualities of its students should be reinforced. That's good.

But to suggest that somehow everyone shares in the mess at Eisenhower is wrong. They don't.

To suggest that everyone is equally susceptible to becoming a victim in an online sex blackmail scheme isn't true. They aren't.
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February 11, 2009, New York Times: Sex Predator Accusations Shake a Wisconsin Town

Anthony Stancl's Obama Blog

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
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UPDATE, December 22, 2009: Anthony Stancl - GUILTY, 2 counts sexual assault
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Anthony Stancl, Election Night 2008

The posts from Anthony Stancl's community blog on Barack Obama's campaign website have been deleted.

He made four blog entries.

Time to Join Together in New Berlin

Waukesha Location Grand Opening

My First Weekend Volunteering

My First House Party I Attended - Franklin

That's the thing about the Internet. Deleting something doesn't make it disappear.

Here are the four posts by Anthony Stancl:

Time to Join Together in New Berlin
By Tony Stancl - Jul 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 pm EDT

First of all, I'd like to introduce myself to you. My name is Tony Stancl and I am supporting Barack Obama for President in 2008. I currently reside here in New Berlin and have grown up here as well. Just thought I would throw this out here right now and mention to you that I am still in high school and currently attend New Berlin Eisenhower. I am going to be senior this coming school year but I, surprisingly for my age, am very active with politics and pay close attention to politics as well. This election will be the first time that I am eligible to vote and I am proud to say that I am going to vote for Barack Obama for President. Now that you know a little bit about me, it is time to get down to business. As many of you may know, New Berlin, along with Waukesha County, is mainly a republic city. The time has come that we join together and help turn this area a little more "blue" instead of "red".

I created this group so that the people of New Berlin can work together and help get Barack Obama elected as our next President of the United States. After a long primary season, we now know that Barack Obama is going to be the Democratic nominee and it is time that we do all that we can to help turn New Berlin into a more democratic city so that we can make sure that Wisconsin can still stay blue state. I hope that I can gather enough support from those in New Berlin to help me campaign here for Barack Obama. I believe that if we worked together that we would be able to help turn those that are undecided about who to vote for, and even those that are Republican but are a bit iffy with their nominee, to change their mind and vote for Barack Obama. We have suffered enough with the politics of our current president and the current Republican nominee is not very different from our president. We do not need another presidency that is similiar to the current one and Barack Obama is the only one that promises a change in our ways of politics. Thanks for taking your time to read this and hope to see you out there helping me gather support for Barack Obama.

- Tony Stancl

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Waukesha Location Grand Opening
By Tony Stancl - Jul 18th, 2008 at 1:07 am EDT

Also listed in: New Berlin for Barack Obama

The other night, I was able to attend the grand opening of the Barack Obama campaign office in Waukesha. This is the first opening that I have been able to attend and I have to admit that I was a bit nervous at first. I was not sure what I should expect, I didn't know if I was going to be the only one from New Berlin or not, I was not sure if I was going to be getting into something that would be over my head. Yet, the one thing that I was sure of is that I want to do all that I can to help get Barack Obama elected this November and I knew that attending the opening would be the best way to figure out how I can help.
I must say that I am very happy that I did go to the grand opening in Waukesha. I found that the staff was very nice and welcomed me when I arrived. They also made sure that I got to the right place that I was suppose to go to. I went to the room where the people from New Berlin and Muskego were to go to talk about why they are there and find out information about what the office can do for us. The man that is in charge of the New Berlin-Muskego area is a very nice guy and was very happy to hear about my enthusiasm about what I'd like to do for this campaign. One other thing that I was very happy about is that I was not the only one from New Berlin there that night! There were two other very nice people that were in the room that were from New Berlin. That made me really happy because I know that New Berlin is very republican I was not sure how many democrats there are here in New Berlin. :)

Overall, I was very satisfied with my trip to Waukesha to attend the grand opening of the office for Barack Obama. I felt really comfortable once I got there and the people working at the office were extremely nice. The more and more I think about it, the more and more I get excited about how I am going to be able to help this election. I already signed up to help volunteer this weekend at the registration drives that are held on the weekends. I plan on hopefully hosting a house party. I plan on also helping the team that is going to campaign in New Berlin for Barack. Overall, I can't wait until I can get more involved and help make a difference! I hope that you guys are excited about this as well. Everything little thing we do will make a difference. I hope to see some of you guys out there volunteering your time with me. That is the only way we can help make a difference and help get Barack Obama elected this fall.

- Tony S

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My First Weekend Volunteering
By Tony Stancl - Jul 25th, 2008 at 9:30 am EDT

Wow. Talk about a busy week. I've finally found time to sit down and actually blog about my experience volunteering last weekend for the campaign. So here it goes. My first day volunteering was last weekend Saturday (the 19th). I decided to go and attend the first volunteering session that is held from 10am to 2pm every weekend on Saturdays. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous at first because I didn't know what to expect. Of course that is normal for everyone so I didn't think too much about it. Well I left the house about 45 mins till 10 because I wanted to make sure I got there on time (and even a little early if I could). When I got into Waukesha, I was getting a bit more nervous because I still didn't know what I was going to be getting myself into. Well I finally find a place to park in the confusing downtown Waukesha area and start to walk to the headquarters. I did hesitate a bit at first but then I finally walked into the front door.

The first thing I noticed was that there weren't a lot of people there. At first, I thought I was late because I arrived about 5 minutes to 10 and I thought they started early or something. So I wasn't too sure what to do but I was warmly greeted by a young woman by the name of Tessa. Tessa is very nice and made me feel comfortable being there and I was very impressed at how welcoming the people that worked there were. She told me what was going on (I guess I was close to one of the first people to arrive) and so I kind of just chatted with some of the workers at the office. Eventually more and more people started to trickle in so they decided that it was time to get everyone into the conference room to explain what was going to happen that day.

We finally all gathered into the conference room and the two employees that were going to lead the day's volunteer efforts (Bobby and I forget the other guy's name) started to talk. They thanked us all for showing up and told us how much the campaign appreciates our efforts. We were all given a clipboard with some instructions on them and voter registration sign-up sheets. It looked very confusing at first but then Bobby started to explain to us what it all meant. I was very happy that there was this mini-training session for the day because I had no idea what to do with what I was given. After the training we formed into groups (I went into the group that Bobby was put in charge of) and our group headed to Brookfield Square in Brookfield. I ended up driving three very nice ladies that were also volunteering which I was very glad I did. I was able to talk with them on the way to the mall about what to expect for the day and what they thought would happen. We all had our doubts and were a bit nervous but we stuck together and eventually made it through the day :) Eventually we arrived at the mall.

When we got to the mall, we meet in the food court because that is where we decided to meet up with Bobby once he arrived. We started to walk around the mall and talk to some people but our visit there didn't last long. We eventually were asked to leave because I guess some lady flipped out on one of the other volunteers because she didn't think we could be there. We went to the other location for the day (Maxwell Street Days? in Mukwonago) and that went much better. There was much more room to cover and many more people at Field Park in Mukwonago. While I was there, I was able to register two voters :) I was very happy when this happened because I was starting to get a bit afraid that I wouldn't be able to find anyone to register (even though Bobby said it was fine if we didn't). We spent a few good hours there and then decided to head back to the office. I decided to stay for the second volunteer session as well (the 2pm to 6pm one). Again, I was put with Bobby which I was very happy about. Bobby is a wonderful guy that is very helpful and an outgoing person. He made me feel very comfortable volunteering and also was a good leader. We went back to the same venue and tried again. Overall, I felt that my first day volunteering went very well.

As for Sunday, I took the liberty to also volunteer from 2pm to 6pm. Again I was welcomed warmly by Tessa and had a chance to actually talk with her. She is a very nice person and is very fun to talk with. She is very outgoing and always seems to be in a good mood. On Sunday, there weren't a lot of people there so I had to help Bobby with the training session by participating in the "role play" of how people should approach people to register. After the training (which was the third training session I attended), we went back to Maxwell Street Days in Mukwonago. Unfortunately, I didn't have much luck that day but I was fine with that. I knew that I got two people to register and I was satisfied with that. Bobby and I went back to the office and I talked with Tessa again and was put to work again. I did some phone banking which was an experience in itself. There were people that were receptive to my calls and some people that weren't. I tried not to let it get to me but one call did but it wasn't bad. I just put that behind me and just thought about the wonderful time I had that weekend helping out at the campaign.

Overall, my experience there had to be one of the best weekends in a long time. I felt very comfortable there. I was welcomed warmly and treated as an equal to the employees. Bobby held a wonderful training session which made the voter registration drive much easier. Like I said before, I had a wonderful weekend and I expect many more to come.

____________________

My First House Party I Attended - Franklin
By Tony Stancl - Jul 25th, 2008 at 9:49 am EDT

The first house party that I attended was on Tuesday the 22nd. It was in Franklin and I was personally invited to it since I started the New Berlin for Barack Obama group. I arrived at the house in Franklin abot 15 minutes early. There was only one other car there so I decided to wait since the people in the other car were in their car as well. Eventually, another car pulled up and they went right into the house. I got out of my car and approached the other car that still had people in it and thought I'd introduce myself since I figured they were there for the same reason I was. It turns out that the lady that was driving is running for Congress. We went into the house together and were greeted warmly by the host of the party and the two people that worked for the campaign (Katy and Bethany, sorry if I spelled their name incorrectly). A few more people trickled in and we sat down in the main room of the house to begin.

Let me back up a little bit first. I talked with the guy that invited me to the house party and he is a very nice man. He was glad to see me there and I was glad to be there as well. I also talked to this other lady that turns out to be the aunt of one of my classmates that I grew up with! I was very surprised to meet someone that I had some sort of connection to but I guess the world isn't that big after all. Well back to the party, we started the meeting by Bethany and Katy introducing themselves and telling us what the purpose for the night was. They both shared their stories which I was very happy that they did because it made me feel much better about sharing my story.

We went around the room sharing each others stories and I was very excited to hear what other people had to say. Then it was my turn and I was a bit nervous but I had an idea about what I was going to say. I told them my first experience in any campaign (which was 4 years ago) and I told them a funny story about how I made my dad take me down to the Kerry HQ in Waukesha and get signs that I could put up in my bedroom window since my parent's wouldn't let me put any in the yard since they didn't support him. I was only 13 or 14 back then and I already was paying attention to politcs! Well, the meeting went on and we talked about what we would like to see happen and I got some good ideas that I plan to share at the meeting in New Berlin.

Overall my first house party that I attended went very well. I met a lot of interesting and nice people. I was welcomed warmly there by the host and the two ladies that work for the campaign. I felt comfortable sharing my story with complete strangers. And it was a very nice environment to be in. I was very happy that I had the opportunity to attend that house party and I plan on helping out in that area when I'm not doing work here in New Berlin. I also now plan on hosting my own house party sometime soon in New Berlin for all of you New Berlin people that I know will attend :D

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As of February 5, 2009, these posts can easily be accessed via Google's cache.
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Related posts:

Anthony R. Stancl

Anthony Stancl Leaves an E-Trail

Paul Kreutzer: "Everybody's from Eisenhower"

Anthony Stancl Leaves an E-Trail

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
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UPDATE, December 22, 2009: Anthony Stancl - GUILTY, 2 counts sexual assault
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Anthony Stancl's buddy icon, "usmc42011," Flickr


Profile photo from Anthony Stancl's blog on Barack Obama's website


Anthony Stancl, Election Night 2008


Anthony Stancl, Spock

These are photos of Tony Stancl that I found on the Internet. They're harmless, not the stuff of blackmail, but they're out there. Put it on the Internet and there's a trail.

In connection to the case of Anthony R. Stancl, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports on a Twitter account belonging to "anthonystancl."

Investigators have described illicit material that they say Anthony Stancl kept privately on his computer as potential blackmail against boys at New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School.

But Stancl, or someone using his alias, also left public trails on blogs and social networking sites to document a bomb threat at his school in mid-November, as well as events on the day police arrested Stancl for sexual assault.

Here's "Google's cache of https://explore.twitter.com/anthonystancl. It is a snapshot of the page as it appeared on Nov 27, 2008 13:45:45 GMT."

It details the bomb threat at New Berlin Eisenhower.





The Journal Sentinel has an image of "anthonystancl's" Twitter page, November 17, 2008, detailing "anthonystancl's" online goodbye.

It appears that these postings do belong to Anthony Stancl. Of greater significance is the e-trail and the clear computer evidence of Stancl's activities.

Busted.

What he did is so heinous it's hard to comprehend.

From the Journal Sentinel:

Anthony R. Stancl, 18, posing as a female on Facebook, persuaded at least 31 boys to send him naked pictures of themselves and then blackmailed some of the boys into performing sex acts under the threat that the pictures would be released to the rest of the high school, according a criminal complaint.

All 31 boys attend New Berlin Eisenhower Middle/High School, said Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel.

The sexual assaults occurred in a bathroom at the high school, the school parking lot, a New Berlin Public Library restroom, Valley View Park, Malone Park, Minooka Park and at some of the victims' homes.

At least seven boys, 15 to 17, were forced into performing sex acts, Schimel said. The incidents occurred from spring 2008 until the time of Stancl's arrest in November. Stancl had 300 photos and movie clips on his computer of boys from the school, ages 13 to 19, Schimel said.

...Schimel said that while the closing of school because of the bomb scare was costly and inconvenient, the charge "pales in comparison" to what investigators learned later. As police were investigating the bomb threat, one victim came forward, he said.

The boy, who was 15 at the time of the assaults, said he was repeatedly forced into sexual acts with Stancl, according to the complaint. Stancl took pictures of every encounter and was able to coerce the boy into repeated sexual acts by telling him the girl he met on Facebook would release the pictures to the rest of the school if they didn't continue to meet, the complaint says.

The boy went to his parents and then the police after Stancl asked the boy to get nude pictures of his brother, the complaint says. The boy refused to get his brother involved.

Stancl, who has been expelled from school, is accused of following a similar pattern with at least six other boys.

I don't know how Stancl could have thought he could ever pull something like this off without eventually being discovered.

Maybe he didn't care.

...Authorities believe there are more victims and are urging them to come forward, New Berlin Police Lt. Mike Glider said.

The resulting investigation also turned up computer evidence that Stancl pulled images of females from their Facebook pages and used them to persuade male students to e-mail nude photographs to Stancl, according to the criminal complaint.

A criminal complaint charges Stancl with the bomb threat plus repeated sexual assault of same child (at least three violations of first- or second-degree sexual assault), possession of child pornography, second- and third-degree sexual assaults, and five counts of child enticement.

The maximum penalty if convicted on all charges is nearly 300 years in prison.

Stancl made his initial appearance Wednesday in Waukesha County Circuit Court in Waukesha and was ordered held on $250,000 bail.

Stancl has thrown his life away. THREE HUNDRED YEARS!

He had a lot going for him, and he threw it away.

What he allegedly did is positively evil.

There are so many victims here.

Thankfully, one kid was finally brave enough to come forward, go to his parents and then to the police.

If this isn't a teaching moment for parents and their children, not only for the New Berlin Eisenhower community but for families everywhere, I don't know what would be.

The Internet is crawling with creeps and perverts and liars. Facebook and MySpace and other social networking sites are their playgrounds.

Don't assume someone on the Internet is the person he or she claims to be.

And never send nude photos of yourself to someone online.
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Video from FOX 6.
_____________

Related Posts:

Anthony R. Stancl

Anthony Stancl's Obama Blog

Paul Kreutzer: "Everybody's from Eisenhower"
______________

February 11, 2009, New York Times: Sex Predator Accusations Shake a Wisconsin Town

Anthony R. Stancl

UPDATE, February 24, 2010: Stancl gets 15 years in prison in Facebook coercion case
_________________

UPDATE, December 22, 2009: Anthony Stancl - GUILTY, 2 counts sexual assault
_________________


Waukesha County Sheriff's booking mug of Anthony R. Stancl


Tony Stancl, Election Night 2008

Anthony R. Stancl, an 18-year-old New Berlin Eisenhower High School student was arrested last November as a result of an investigation into bomb threats made to the school.

According to police, the student admitted his involvement in an e-mail bomb threat that was made Thursday, Nov. 13.

Police released him on his own recognizance Friday because they do not believe he poses a credible threat, however, police may refer him to the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office to face charges of making a bomb threat.

Video from FOX 6:

Today, Anthony Stancl was charged. The case involves much more than bomb threats. From the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Describing a pattern of manipulation and deception using the social networking site Facebook, the Waukesha County district attorney today announced sexual assault charges against a New Berlin Eisenhower student who authorities say coerced male students into sexual encounters. Anthony R. Stancl, 18, posing as a female on Facebook, coerced at 31 boys to send him naked pictures and then blackmailed some of the boys into performing sex acts under the threat that the pictures would be released to the rest of the high school. At least seven boys were forced into performing sex acts. The males range in age 13 to 19. The youngest sexual assault victim is 15. The investigation into Stancl began after bomb threats on Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 led to the closure of Eisenhower Middle and High School on Nov 18. The resulting investigation turned up computer evidence that Stancl had posed as a female on Facebook and persuaded male students to e-mail nude photographs. According to District Attorney Brad Schimel, Stancl then used the photos as blackmail for sexual encounters. A criminal complaint filed today charges Stancl with the bomb threats plus repeated sexual assault of same child (at least three violations of first or second degree sexual assault), possession of child pornography, second and third degree sexual assaults and child enticement.

More. From 620 WTMJ, Dan O'Donnell writes:

Anthony Stancl, 18, is charged with five counts of child enticement, two counts of second degree sexual assault, two counts of third degree sexual assault, possession of child pornography, the repeated sexual assault of the same child, and making a bomb threat. "Mr. Stancl used the internet to first communicate with people on Facebook, pretending to be a female," said Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel. "After some conversations with these individuals, he would eventually coax them into providing him with nude photographs of themselves in exchange for what they thought was nude photographs of the girl they were talking with. "It wasn't a girl, it was Anthony Stancl." He allegedly exchanged pictures with at least 31 teenaged boys, and Stancl then tried to blackmail or extort half of them into meeting him for sex acts. "They were coerced into acts they didn't wish to be involved in," Schimel said. "Stancl told them that if they didn't he would show the pictures to all of their friends. "All told, there were approximately 300 photographs of known New Berlin high school students. There were over 600 other movies that were commercially produced child pornography videos that had been downloaded off the internet."

Here's video of the news conference announcing the charges, from 620 WTMJ. Sometimes I feel like I've become desensitized to stories about creeps and perverts. There are so many that they fail to shock me. They always disgust me, but I'm not shocked. The story of Anthony Stancl's alleged activities is shocking. The way he allegedly preyed on classmates, the blackmail, the deceit... it's nauseating. Just yesterday, AP reported:

About 90,000 sex offenders have been identified and removed from the social networking Web site MySpace, company and law enforcement officials said Tuesday. The number was nearly double what MySpace officials originally estimated last year, said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, who along with Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has led efforts to make social networking Web sites safer for young users. Cooper said he wasn't surprised by the updated numbers, and demanded that MySpace and rival online networking site Facebook — which claim to have more than 280 million users combined — do more to protect children and teenagers. "These sites were created for young people to communicate with each other. Predators are going to troll in these areas where they know children are going to be," Cooper said. "That's why these social networking sites have the responsibility to make their sites safe for children." The attorneys general received agreements last year from MySpace and Facebook to push toward making their sites safer. Both sites implemented dozens of safeguards, including finding better ways to verify user's ages, banning convicted sex offenders from using the sites and limiting the ability of older users to search members under 18.

MySpace and Facebook need to monitor their sites and should have safeguards to protect their users. That said, users need to use their heads. Parents need to educate their children about inappropriate and dangerous Internet behavior. It's horrible that the victims in the New Berlin case willingly gave Stancl nude photos of themselves. DON'T DO THAT. I don't mean to blame the victims. They aren't the bad guys. Stancl is the alleged sexual offender here. I merely am pointing out that kids need to understand just how risky such online behavior is. There are so many sexual predators on the Internet. Facebook and MySpace are their personal playgrounds. It appears that Stancl was very good at playing the game on Facebook, allegedly. If not for being busted on the bomb threats, how many more classmates and others would Stancl have victimized, allegedly? Thank God he tripped up by making those threats. ___________________ Anthony Stancl wasn't a failing student. He made the Honor Roll 2007-2008. Here's his profile on Spock, written when he was sixteen. Stancl writes:

Some people consider me rich but i dont like that saying, i prefer "financially fortunate" lol

He was very active in Barack Obama's campaign. Read his blog, on Obama's campaign website, "Barack Obama and Joe Biden: The Change We Need." Stancl introduces himself to the Obama community here.

Time to Join Together in New Berlin By Tony Stancl - Jul 2nd, 2008 at 9:28 pm EDT First of all, I'd like to introduce myself to you. My name is Tony Stancl and I am supporting Barack Obama for President in 2008. I currently reside here in New Berlin and have grown up here as well. Just thought I would throw this out here right now and mention to you that I am still in high school and currently attend New Berlin Eisenhower. I am going to be senior this coming school year but I, surprisingly for my age, am very active with politics and pay close attention to politics as well. This election will be the first time that I am eligible to vote and I am proud to say that I am going to vote for Barack Obama for President. Now that you know a little bit about me, it is time to get down to business. As many of you may know, New Berlin, along with Waukesha County, is mainly a republic city. The time has come that we join together and help turn this area a little more "blue" instead of "red". I created this group so that the people of New Berlin can work together and help get Barack Obama elected as our next President of the United States. After a long primary season, we now know that Barack Obama is going to be the Democratic nominee and it is time that we do all that we can to help turn New Berlin into a more democratic city so that we can make sure that Wisconsin can still stay blue state. I hope that I can gather enough support from those in New Berlin to help me campaign here for Barack Obama. I believe that if we worked together that we would be able to help turn those that are undecided about who to vote for, and even those that are Republican but are a bit iffy with their nominee, to change their mind and vote for Barack Obama. We have suffered enough with the politics of our current president and the current Republican nominee is not very different from our president. We do not need another presidency that is similiar to the current one and Barack Obama is the only one that promises a change in our ways of politics. Thanks for taking your time to read this and hope to see you out there helping me gather support for Barack Obama. - Tony Stancl

Another post:

My First House Party I Attended - Franklin By Tony Stancl - Jul 25th, 2008 at 9:49 am EDT The first house party that I attended was on Tuesday the 22nd. It was in Franklin and I was personally invited to it since I started the New Berlin for Barack Obama group. I arrived at the house in Franklin abot 15 minutes early. There was only one other car there so I decided to wait since the people in the other car were in their car as well. Eventually, another car pulled up and they went right into the house. I got out of my car and approached the other car that still had people in it and thought I'd introduce myself since I figured they were there for the same reason I was. It turns out that the lady that was driving is running for Congress. We went into the house together and were greeted warmly by the host of the party and the two people that worked for the campaign (Katy and Bethany, sorry if I spelled their name incorrectly). A few more people trickled in and we sat down in the main room of the house to begin. Let me back up a little bit first. I talked with the guy that invited me to the house party and he is a very nice man. He was glad to see me there and I was glad to be there as well. I also talked to this other lady that turns out to be the aunt of one of my classmates that I grew up with! I was very surprised to meet someone that I had some sort of connection to but I guess the world isn't that big after all. Well back to the party, we started the meeting by Bethany and Katy introducing themselves and telling us what the purpose for the night was. They both shared their stories which I was very happy that they did because it made me feel much better about sharing my story. We went around the room sharing each others stories and I was very excited to hear what other people had to say. Then it was my turn and I was a bit nervous but I had an idea about what I was going to say. I told them my first experience in any campaign (which was 4 years ago) and I told them a funny story about how I made my dad take me down to the Kerry HQ in Waukesha and get signs that I could put up in my bedroom window since my parent's wouldn't let me put any in the yard since they didn't support him. I was only 13 or 14 back then and I already was paying attention to politcs! Well, the meeting went on and we talked about what we would like to see happen and I got some good ideas that I plan to share at the meeting in New Berlin. Overall my first house party that I attended went very well. I met a lot of interesting and nice people. I was welcomed warmly there by the host and the two ladies that work for the campaign. I felt comfortable sharing my story with complete strangers. And it was a very nice environment to be in. I was very happy that I had the opportunity to attend that house party and I plan on helping out in that area when I'm not doing work here in New Berlin. I also now plan on hosting my own house party sometime soon in New Berlin for all of you New Berlin people that I know will attend :D

He doesn't sound like a sexual predator and offender, does he? He can express himself quite well. He's politically involved. It doesn't seem like it could be the same person charged with "five counts of child enticement, two counts of second degree sexual assault, two counts of third degree sexual assault, possession of child pornography, the repeated sexual assault of the same child, and making a bomb threat," but it is. Posts by Stancl:

My First House Party I Attended - Franklin My First Weekend Volunteering Waukesha Location Grand Opening Time to Join Together in New Berlin

(Note: Anthony Stancl's posts have been deleted. Read Stancl's Obama blog here.) _____________ UPDATE: $250,000 bail ordered in 'horrific' New Berlin case

Anthony Stancl made his initial appearance in court this afternoon and was ordered held on $250,000 bail. "In this court's 7 1/2 years on the bench, this is the most horrific complaint the court has ever reviewed," Waukesha County Circuit Court Commissioner Laura Florian Lau said. "The defendant is facing 293 years if convicted on these 12 counts.  . . .  This is a crime allegedly that involved many, many, many victims. The court is extremely concerned as to whether defendant will return to court." As a condition of bail, Stancl cannot have access to any computers, cell phones or Internet capable devices. He also was ordered not to be on any school grounds, including school parking lots, and is prohibited from entering the New Berlin Public Library, where he is accused of using computers. Lau ordered him to have no contact with minors and no contact with any of his victims. During Stancl's court appearance, Schimel said that in the days prior to Stancl's arrest a victim told authorities that he found a note on the windshield of his vehicle, presumably from Stancl. The note said, "I know what you told police." It included statements that "this wasn't going to end up well as a result of that," Schimel said. ...[Stancl's attorney, Craig M. Kuhary,] said that Stancl has been expelled from New Berlin Eisenhower High School. After the hearing, Kuhary declined to comment to the media, except to say that so far only one side of the case has been disclosed. A preliminary hearing for Stancl has been scheduled for Feb. 26.

____________________ Related posts: Anthony Stancl Leaves an E-Trail Anthony Stancl's Obama Blog Paul Kreutzer: "Everybody's from Eisenhower" ____________________ February 11, 2009, New York Times: Sex Predator Accusations Shake a Wisconsin Town