GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Former Green Bay elementary school teacher David Villareal was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison for sexually assaulting students.
A jury convicted Villareal, 48, of four counts during a trial in April, despite Villareal maintaining his innocence. The incidents happened in 2015 and 2016 at Baird Elementary School, when the four girls were 7 and 8 years old.
Villareal was also placed on extended supervision for 10 years after that.
Before the sentence was issued, the mother of one of the victims described the impact the case has had on her, her career, and her daughter.
“She talked about hurting herself. She was irrational. And she threatened suicide many times. She may not have full understood the gravity of what she was saying, but I will never be able to get the words and images out of my mind of my little girl screaming and crying for help. She was trying to jump out of our front window to kill herself, and fighting so many demons at that time. We never imaged that the conflict that she was enduring was because of the inappropriate actions of Mr. Villareal,” she said.
Villareal declined to address the court.
Judge Donald Zuidmulder described Villareal’s actions as “classic grooming” by a predator.
“I’m looking at the protection of the public because, frankly, Mr. Villareal, you have indicated this never happened. Which, in the court’s mind, means ‘If I let you walk out of my courtroom, tomorrow you’d do the same thing.’ That’s what that’s telling me. So I consider you to be very dangerous,” Judge Zuidmulder said.
Judge Zuidmulder said he purposely crafted it to be what amounts to a life sentence.
“I am not going to let any parent be concerned that their child can ever be hurt and harmed the way you have harmed the four children in this case. I’m making it clear. You’ve indicated you want to appeal? I invite you to appeal. I hope you appeal. And I’m satisfied to stand by my sentencing,” the judge said.
Villareal resigned after the first charges were filed in 2022.
