Former Chief of Riverside Fire Department Pleads Not Guilty to Child Enticement and Sexual Assault
Tuesday, November 12th, 2024 -- 2:01 PM
(Mike Leischner, WSAU) The former Chief of the Riverside Fire Department in Rothschild and Schofield has pled not guilty to child enticement and misdemeanor sexual assault.
According to Mike Leischner with WSAU, Robert Bowen appeared in a Marathon County courtroom on Monday where a judge also bound him over for trial, declaring that there was enough evidence for the case to proceed.
The 53-year-old is accused of making inappropriate contact with a child who was under the age of 18. Court documents say the contact occurred55 between June 2023 and spring 2024.
Charges were filed in late May. Shortly thereafter Bowen was put on paid administrative leave. He remained there until early August when he left the department for “personal and professional reasons,” according to a statement from the Village of Rothschild.
Officials emphasized that the alleged actions did not occur while he was on duty for the department or on Village property. Since his departure, the department has been leaning on their remaining Captains with assistance from Rothschild Administrator Ryan VanDeWalle.
The charges against him carry a maximum penalty of 16.5 years in prison. He remains free on a $15,000 cash bond. Further court action is scheduled for December 17th.
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