Steven Jahnke appears in Outagamie County court, September 24, 2026. (Outagamie Co. court/Zoom)
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Steven Jahnke pleaded not guilty Thursday to allegedly stealing about $70,000 from the Hearthstone Historic House Museum.
No trial date was set on the one count of theft in a business setting. Jahnke, 78, returns to court Nov. 2 for a status conference.
Jahnke allegedly embezzled museum funds for his personal use from 2019 to 2025, according to a criminal complaint. Jahnke admitted he “embezzled funds to pay for his own expenses,” the complaint states.
The museum was built in 1882 and became a private nonprofit museum in 1986. The museum was originally a residence and was the first hydroelectric-powered home in the world.
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