Ryan Schroeder (Photo courtesy Manitowoc County Sheriff's Office)
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Former Mishicot teacher Ryan Schroeder was sentenced Wednesday to 15 years in state prison for sexual assaults involving a student – but the sentence will be served at the same time as a 28-year federal prison term on related counts.
Schroeder, 38, was convicted in state court of one count of repeated sexual assault of the same child. Another 18 counts were dismissed but could be considered during the hearing.
He was also placed on extended supervision for 10 years by Judge Mark Rohrer. Conditions of that included a prohibition on any teaching or coaching after he is released, and placement on the sex offender registry.
Before the sentence was issued, Schroeder apologized for taking advantage of the “dream position” he had as a teacher.
I failed miserably in the end. So, I want to apologize to Victim 2 and her family for the pain and embarrassment that I have caused. You trusted me, and I’m extremely sorry for breaking that trust and the trauma that I put you through. I also want to apologize to Victim 1 and her family,” he said. “I take full responsibility for my actions. I’m serving a very lengthy prison sentence but the worst sentence of all is my time away from my children for many, many years that will come after– along with the guilt and shame and scars that I will have for the rest of my life for the immense pain I’ve caused people I love and care for.
Assistant District Attorney Angela Scarpelli read letters from a victim’s parents. Her father commented how Schroeder “destroyed my daughter’s life, her future, and stole her childhood.”
The judge admonished Schroeder for his “deplorable” behavior.
Your selfish sexual predatory behavior took away from a child the right to be just that – a child, in normal teenage years. Maybe the crushes that go on in high school. First date. First kiss. You took all of that away and you didn’t care because of your sexual deviant behavior,” the judge said.
Because the federal conviction was for interrelated behavior as the state counts, the concurrent sentence was appropriate, the judge said.
The federal conviction was for producing child pornography by recording an encounter with the girl.
According to the criminal complaint, the encounters between Schroeder and the student started around Aug. 1, 2023, and continued into 2025. The girl was 14 when the assaults began.
“Schroeder admitted he was having sexual intercourse with VICTIM 1 since 2023, continuously through 2025, and most recently at the end of March 2025. Schroeder admitted having sexual intercourse with VICTIM 1 over 50 separate times with VICTIM 1 from 2023-2025. Schroeder admitted to having sexual intercourse with VICTIM 1 inside of Mishicot High School over 10 times from 2023-2025,” the complaint states.
Videos showed the two engaged in sexual activities. There were also “selfie” photos showing the girl in various states of undress.
The complaint also identifies a second victim. Schroeder and that female exchanged nude photos, the complaint stated.
Comments