Wausau Teacher Faces Trial on Child Porn Charges

A Wausau high school religion teacher and coach was ordered to stand trial today on multiple counts of possession of child pornography.

Fifty-year-old Michael Switalski stood shackled and in handcuffs before Marathon County Judge Greg Huber and waived his right to a preliminary hearing, insuring that he will stand trial on eight counts of possession of child pornography.

Switalski has been placed on leave at Wausau Newman Catholic High School, where he teaches religion, law and history, and coaches varsity boys soccer. Defense attorney Richard Lawson and prosecutor Theresa Wetzsteon both say Switalski’s good reputation doesn’t matter.

“It doesn’t complicate the case at all from my point of view,” said Lawson. “He should be treated like everybody else. The upstanding character doesn’t have anything to do with the facts and the complaint in these types of cases.”

Said Wetzseon: “Justice is the same regardless of your standing in the community, so whether you’re wealthy or whether you’re poor or whether you hold a position of high respect or authority, the facts and the justice system should treat you the same.”

Switalski is accused of ordering child pornography from a Toronto company that is now out of business. Wetzsteon says the videos contained nude scenes of young boys showering and playing together, but did not portray sex acts. None of the images involved students at Newman.

Switalski is only accused of possessing the material.

“The information we have at this time is that he was in possession of the child pornography, not that he was participating in the acts or that he was involved in the making of the child pornography,” said Wetzseon. “At this point, we don’t have any information like that.”

Michael Switalski could face up to 200 years in prison if convicted.