Posted: 3/14/07
Local man charged with abuse crimes
 Paul William Hansen |
By Patrick Tepoorten
An investigation conducted by North Branch police officer Wayne Schwalbe, and based on allegations made in August of 2006, has resulted in a North Branch man charged with multiple counts of first and second degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC).
Schwalbe first heard the allegations on Aug. 9, 2006, when an adult relative of Paul William Hansen, 35, of North Branch, came forward and accused him of years worth of sexual abuse. She alleged that Hansen has been abusing her since she was 13 years of age, and the abuse continued and got progressively worse until the age of 16. The victim informed Schwalbe that she was coming forward to prevent Hansen from abusing other relatives.
As a result of the investigation, Hansen has been formally charged with:
• First degree CSC, including intercourse with a person between the ages of 13 and 16
• First degree CSC, including intercourse with a person less than 16 years of age
• First degree CSC, including intercourse, multiple acts over an extended period of time
Each of the first degree charges carries a penalty of 30 years and a $40,000 fine.
• Second degree CSC, sexual contact with a person between the ages of 13 and 16
• Second degree CSC, sexual contact with a person under the age of 16
• Second degree CSC, sexual contact with a person under the age of 16, multiple acts
Each second degree charge carries a penalty of 25 years and a $35,000 fine.
Hansen had his first court appearance on March 5. A jury trial has been scheduled for July 9, 2007.
Comment from Lisa, 3/15/07
I find it disgusting that people who are charged, not convicted, are displayed in this manner in your paper. Paul has not been convicted of these charges nor was he ever arrested. It took officer Schwalbe five and a half months to turn his report into the county atty., yet his last interview was the week before Labor day. What took so long? These allegations have torn this family apart. Now with this story and his photo printed in your paper the other unharmed children and family members will face the ridicule of our community. Seven months to get to this point in the case, no arrest, no bail, and told he may move back into his home to be with his family: Does that make any sense to you?
Comment from Disturbed , 3/15/07
The last time I checked , I lived in the United States of America where people are innocent until proven guilty. What happens when ( I will not say if, I am confident that it is "when") this man is found innocent? Then What? Will the Post Review place a front page article stating that said man was found innocent...or are you just planning on ruining a person and then never having a conscience enough to care about the aftermath. A family broken, a home disturbed, and now a community that will forever remember his face and probably not check back to see that he is innocent...that hardly sounds like innocent until proven guilty to me. It is just a sad sad shame that one sided stories like the one above can be placed in the news before the trial even takes place. You know as well as I do, all it takes is a picture of a face and a story....now the community gets to decide if they will take it for what it is, an allegation! Or, will they rake him over the coals, because the news printed it...so it must be true?! Sad.
Comment from Billie Jo Lobdell, 3/15/07
I hope when the truth comes out that the accuser has completely fabricated all of these lies that your paper will be upstanding and print a retraction. You have no idea what this article has done to his family who have to live in your community.
Comment from brandon, 3/16/07
i think that your paper is wrong in what it did. I dont beleave that you can ruin a mans life any more then it is with out him being arrested. i truely hope that the next thing you print appologizes to this family. and another thing that you need to do is print some unbiased opions and some actual facts.
Comment from Linda, 3/16/07
How sick that your paper would intentionally set out to ruin a man and his family! I used to hate Forest Lakes gossip rag, but at least they do not put a persons name in until they are convicted of they crime. Your paper is a step or may a whole flight below the National Inquire. I hope your sourece is satisfied that they have destroyed a man and his family before the man has even been tried.
Comment from Sandy, 3/16/07
This article is No different than what is reported in the news shows on TV every night. Once a person has been "formally charged" their picture and all counts against him/her can become public knowledge. Using words like "alleged" are just that, alledged. I don't see any evidence in this article that supports that this man is guily .
Comment from Disturbed , 3/16/07
To Sandy:
He may not have "Guilty" stamped across his forehead, but, unfortunately people see this article, see his face and assume that he is guilty. It is the American way. See a face, hear a charge, label the person guilty. I think that the anger of this being printed before the evidence is presented, before the trial takes place..is that this is a man that was a part of many community activites, he is a father to children that are now being shunned and ridiculed at school, he is a husband who's wife is standing by his side. There is so much more to this story than just...this is Paul William Hansen, he has been charged with.......... But, now, unfortunately it has been put into the public eye and ear and his family is paying for it. His children are paying for it.
Comment from Jackie, 3/19/07
I know what I would think if I read this story like anyone else, Oh my god he lives in MY town. The difference is I know this family and everything they have been put through, it scares me to think that one person, with alot of problems can do this to a family. And anybody that just reads the paper and doesn't know the whole story is forever going to think of Paul this way. Its not fair, and yes I know that once he was charged with it, its public knowledge, and makes for interesting news to put in the paper, but at what cost. Along with "innocent until proven guilty" it shouldn't be public knowledge until proven guilty. We ( human beings) are not going to forget the face or make sure to read later what the outcome was, I don't think were capable. We all like to gossip and tell a story in hopes that we are the first to give up the dirt. I hope that anyone reading this article will please just stop, don't be the judge with out all the facts, think about who you are hurting, and don't think for a second this could never happen to me, if it happened to this family it could happen to your family. Paul,you have all my support
Comment from Mona, 3/19/07
This young man and his family have been devastated by these "allegations" and this story just adds more heartache for him, his wife and children. Is there any thought put into these articles except for the fact that they are "news"? It makes me sick that a newspaper cannot find anything else to write except for an article that purposely goes out its way to hurt and destroy a person's reputation. I'm sure the day he is cleared of all charges your newspaper will treat it in the same manner - front page.
Comment from Michael Engbretson, 3/19/07
To the extent of my knowledge, this person has not been pronounced guilty. Why are people, especially newspapers, spending time writing and publishing articles that have no established verdict? When this gentleman is finished with all court dates, and he is found innocent, there needs to be an apology in this paper.
Comment from zach, 3/29/07
I do not understand what the big fuss is about. This article was printed because it was news. It never called him guilty, it was never once biased during the article. The article stated the facts that were given and let the public know what happens "IF" he becomes convicted. I am 23 years old and i grew up in North Branch and to see people that live there now say the stuff they say, i am shocked. The only people who are judging any one are you people who are writing the comments. Do not be mad at the paper for bringing us the news. The post review did not ruin or intend to ruin this mans life. Who you should be mad at is the man who took 5 and half months to produce the charges. If anyone ruined he life it was the person doing the investigation. What makes me sick about this whole article is who you people are attacking.
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