TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – A popular Two Rivers haunted house remains closed for the season after its owner was charged earlier this week with sexually assaulting a child.
Court documents show the victim started volunteering at the haunted house as an 8th grader. The assaults occurred over three years.
FOX 11 has learned police have been investigating John Schwarz for at least five years.
Schwarz only has one charge of repeated sexual assault of a child filed against him, but investigators have already indicated more charges could be on the way.
“Throughout law enforcement’s investigation, there were a number of juveniles that the defendant was having sexual contact with,” said Manitowoc County Assistant District Attorney Angelina Scarpelli during an October 13th court hearing.
Schwarz owns Scare USA in Two Rivers. FOX 11 is told children as young as 11 years old volunteered to work inside the haunted house.
“We can look back now and see all these grooming tactics that were being used,” said Jill Adams, a former Scare USA worker.
Adams and her family members worked at Scare USA for years, but quit two years ago when someone close to them said they were physically assaulted by Schwarz. Adams says police were told about the incident.
“At that time actually that individual was told that there was an investigation going on with the other victims that have come forward.”
A former volunteer, who requested to remain anonymous, told FOX 11 she quit working at Scare USA after a brief stint when she was 16 years old. She says Schwarz was the reason. She says police questioned her about him shortly after she quit.
“I just told him the way he [Schwarz] would try to watch us, the little weird comments, everything like that. He [the officer] goes, ‘Well, a student approached me about the issues she felt like she was having with John. Can you tell me about yours?”
She says police told her to keep to herself about their questions.
“He just basically told me they have an eye on him, just to lay low about it for now because there was no real concrete evidence because this all happened in person, so they really didn’t have concrete evidence to arrest him five years ago.”
According to a criminal complaint, five years ago is when the victim Schwarz is now charged with sexually assaulting confided to his school counselor and police about what happened.
FOX 11 asked Two Rivers Police for an interview so we could ask them why charges weren’t filed against Schwarz in 2018 when the allegations were made against him. They told us they have nothing to share at this time, but that could change in the future.
Adams says she knows the victim and was told they weren’t comfortable proceeding with the case against Schwarz at the time.
“They needed to make sure they were safe,” said Adams. “Now they are in a safe position in their lives that they can go ahead and do this.”
Scarpelli explained why victims might have been reluctant to come forward against Schwarz.
“He then tells them if they are to tell anyone that no one would believe them, that he has strong ties to law enforcement, to the community.”
FOX 11 asked Adams if she knew about the allegations against Schwarz back in 2018.
“I did not,” replied Adams. “We would have walked away just like that. We were so blind to all of it. John portrayed himself as this vibrant person and that he was doing the best for the community.”
Those who did know about the allegations back then were still caught off guard when they found out Schwarz is now behind bars.
“I was actually really surprised because honestly after five years I thought they just thought they can’t get real concrete evidence on him, there’s no real proof they can officially arrest him, but there was also relief because I know I wasn’t the only one that felt victimized by him,” said the former volunteer who requested anonymity.
FOX 11 contacted Schwarz’s attorney for comment for this story, but we have not heard back.
Schwarz is being held on a $50,000 cash bond. If he were to post that bond, a condition is he must not have any contact with any minor or the victim he is charged with assaulting.
