UPDATE: Teacher Assault

TrueView Weather
Hour By Hour	Dane Radar
7-Day Extended	South WI Radar

Save

Reporter: Evrod Cassimy
Email Address: ECassimy@nbc15.com

71 comments

Photos

A | A | A

Updated Thursday --- January 18, 2008 --- 11:00am

Teaching assistant charged for relationship with teenager

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A Waunakee teaching assistant has been charged with repeated sexual assault of a child for having an affair with a female high school student.

32 year-old Anthony Hirsch was recently put on unpaid leave after being caught in a federal investigation into child pornography.

He was charged yesterday in connection with his relationship with the girl, who was a freshman when he worked at Madison La Follette High School. Authorities say Hirsch admitted to police during the child porn investigation that he had a yearlong affair with the girl, now 19. She confirmed the relationship with police.

Hirsch was also charged in Dane County Thursday with knowingly possessing child pornography.

He faces a maximum term of prison and extended supervision of 60 years on the sexual assault charge, and a maximum of 25 years of prison and extended supervision on the child pornography charge.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Posted Thursday ---- January 3, 2008 --- 7:04pm

"We were contacted by federal authorities and they indicated that this individual was part of an internet porn ring," says Madison Police spokesman, Joel De Spain. This individual? 32 year old Anthony J. Hirsch. Madison Police arrested him last Friday charging him with one count of possession of child pornography.

"We executed a search warrant on his residence. We've seized some computers. We're currently going through those computers."

Adding to the investigation is Hirsch's profession. He's surrounded by children on a daily basis. Once employed at Madison's La Follette High School, he currently works as an educational assistant for special education children at Waunakee Middle School. Both schools have been notified.

"It's obviously one piece of information that no school administrator likes to hear or wants to hear," says Waunakee Community School District superintendent, Chuck Pursell. "We went back and checked our employment process in terms of how we went about checking recommendations."

As of now, he's on administrative unpaid leave until further notice. And while the Madison Police Department and the Dane County Sheriff's Office conduct their investigation, the Waunakee school district is conducting their own internally. However, they insist Hirsch has not victimized any of his students.

"We feel pretty safe and pretty confident. We've been assured by at least the Madison Police Department at this point and time that no Waunakee students are involved in this investigation at all."

Posted Thursday ---- January 3, 2008 --- 1:00pm

Police have arrested an educational assistant at Waunakee Middle School on child pornography charges.

Police seared the home of 32-year-old Anthony Hirsch Friday.

During the investigation, they learned that Hirsch may be involved in a commercial child exploitation website.

Hirsch is currently employed as an educational assistant for special education children at Waunakee Middle School

He formerly worked at Madison La Follette High School.

del.icio.us

Google

Yahoo

digg

Click Pictures to Enlarge

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: me Location: Waunakee on Jan 25, 2008 at 09:28 PM
Whoever wrote the thing about him getting the phone number. i dont believe that is true?

Posted by: anonymous Location: waunakee on Jan 25, 2008 at 09:13 PM
not again!!!

Posted by: Leah Location: Waunakee on Jan 22, 2008 at 06:38 PM
Poor Mr.H, he was a good man. Yeah, sure, he was kind of creepy at times, but still. He had a great sense of humor. Plus that picture makes him look creepier than he really is. He is really better groomed than that picture shows. Also many school have kids that drink, of course. Who knew that some kids here make a mistake and it becomes a big deal. What about when all the other small cities have those kind of parties? They make us seem like we are supposed to be the most innocent city ever, but I don't think that's possible!

Posted by: 8TH GRADER Location: Waunakee on Jan 19, 2008 at 12:32 PM
You guys are bashing people Waunakee, and saying Madison is better. Waunakee people have only had a drinking party. Don't try to say that Madison is way better because in Waunakee, people don't get shot or robbed. In my opinon, I would rather be in a city where people drink, than live in a city where police find people dead in their apartments, or people are rushed to the hospital because they got shot! We only have 10 thousand people in our city, and we still can compete with the bigger cities like Madison who have 10 times more people than us! Mr. Hirsch went to La Follette, why aren't you bashing on them? All you people who think your city is perfect, think again!

Posted by: leo Location: waunakee on Jan 19, 2008 at 12:11 PM
im scared too go back too skooll..someone help me

Posted by: Anne Location: Wisconsin on Jan 18, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Does anybody use correct spelling or grammar anymore? The people posting their remarks need some remedial help.

Posted by: anonymous2000! Location: Madison on Jan 18, 2008 at 05:17 PM
I met Mr. Hirsch while attending Elvehjem elementary long ago. My friends there would often tell me stories of how creepy he was. I don't remember much of this but I do remember that he was around the 4th grade girls a bit too much. Like all the time he was playing with them at recess. It's very odd to see something like this happen to someone you knew long ago.

Posted by: anonymous Location: Madison on Jan 18, 2008 at 12:00 PM
Wow mr. hirsch just keeps getting worse and worse.

Posted by: anonymous Location: waunakee on Jan 18, 2008 at 11:07 AM
cela - read the newspapers or listen to the news once in awhile. There has been plenty to "diss" Waunakee about!

Posted by: me Location: madison on Jan 18, 2008 at 07:28 AM
cela, Information to back it up? I guess you do not listen to the news or read the papers on an every day basis huh? I am not saying Waunakee is a horrible place but in recent months it has shown an ugly side for being such a small town. Now it sounds like the principal had been told by multiple students that this guy was inappropriately touching, giving weird looks ect. What did the principal do about this? Was there an internal investigation into these allegations? Or was this kept hush hush like some of the other things that has happened in recent months? Some people in Waunakee need to wake up and stop worrying about it "leaking out to the press". Problems do not go away on there own.

Posted by: Renee on Jan 17, 2008 at 09:56 PM
I have grown up with Tony. He was my religion teacher from the start. He has beed there whenever anyone has needed him. Yes he does make people uncomfortable with the way he walks and his arm, but everyone has something different with them. We all make mistakes.

Posted by: Thought First Location: Waunakee on Jan 17, 2008 at 08:11 PM
To "Think First" apparently you were WRONG--this man had SEX with a student. What a creepo! So much for THINKING FIRST!!

Posted by: Tom Location: Mazomanie on Jan 17, 2008 at 06:15 PM
I think all of you who have said you should wait til he is found guilty should swallow your word's !! It sure sound's like he is more than just GUILTY !! but he was such a GREAT TEACHER !!!! What ever !!!

Posted by: Sheyenne Location: Waunakee on Jan 11, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I think that this man should be fired and not allowed to work in an educational environment ever. He was my "assistant" in the 8th grade and he did scare me. They always blamed his wierd behavier on his siezures that he would have because he too is disabled. Me and my friends have complained several times and nothing was done about it. I think that this could have been prevented. He never "assaulted" us but he did play with my hair saying very wierd things like i should wear it down and that it is beautiful. Of course this wasnt in the presence of anyone else. He also has grabed my waist and rubbed my shoulders in a wierd way. My friends said that he had looked down there shirts and that he stared at them funny. So i definitly think that this could be prevented.---thank you---Sheyenne

Posted by: cela Location: waunakee on Jan 8, 2008 at 06:11 PM
I read many comments from other towns saying Waunakee is a horrible place to live. I agree, Waunakee has not had a good year this year regarding different things. Just because we had Mr.Hirsch working at my school, doesn't mean waunakee is a horrible place to live. He easily could have been employed in Madison or Deforest. so, please, waunakee school was voted 2nd best school district, Edgewood was first. So everyone who dissed waunakee in these comments has no right until you have information to back it up. Thank you

Posted by: ThinkFirst Location: wanunakee on Jan 6, 2008 at 11:16 PM
First, all the people close to Mr. Hirsch and who know him well feel that he would never do anything to hurt a child. Secondly, the things confiscated in the search warrant included many items that belonged to Mr. Hirsch's roommate. The only electronic devises confiscated that actually belong to Hirsch were one laptop and a cell phone. Third, like some people have already said, wait for the verdict. He was charged with ONE COUNT of possession of child pornography. Finally, I am sick of the "my friend said her friend said Mr. Hirsch looked at her weird" You need to understand that this is a person's life and reputation and you should think long and hard about whether or not your accusations have any grounds before you spread them.

Posted by: Cassie Location: Waunakee on Jan 6, 2008 at 12:13 AM
he once violated a part of my body (butt) by "accident" he said...by touching it during the process of coming in after recess. This really scares me and makes me fear for my safety at waunakee middle school now, because of the irresponsable principals that let him continue to teach there after all the complaints

Posted by: Pauly Location: Waunakee on Jan 6, 2008 at 12:07 AM
I wish these irresponsable teachers would do someting about this, i hope they are reading this because i want them to know how i feel. You wanna know how i feel. I feel fiercly violated as a student going to this school. I know that there was multiple complaints about him prior to this and it should have been tacken care of right away. He obviously has problems and is a sick person. Basically what this boils down to is......The Waunakee School district handled this situation ver very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very poorly and its a great thing that the superintendent resigned because they will be better off without him and his lack of intelligence

Posted by: Student Location: Waunakee on Jan 5, 2008 at 11:19 PM
I'm am an 8th grader at the Waunakee Middle School. I would just like to say that if he came back to work, me and my classmates have discussed, that we would feel endangered. He showed signs that something was odd. Giving girls random detentions. My friend got one for talking to loudly in the hallway. He didn't do anything to her; just stared at her as she did homework. He sick and scares us all. I wish to remain anatamous. Thank you.

Posted by: Tami Location: Waunakee WI on Jan 5, 2008 at 10:08 PM
How many students have to complain about a teachers alleged misconduct before the school principal becomes involved and investigates these allegations. I have heard that the school principal was notified by students as long ago as last year!!! Come on our childrens safety should be top priority not how it could reflect badly on our school. We deserve to know the facts!!!

Posted by: anonymous Location: waunakee on Jan 5, 2008 at 04:19 PM
ya! people leave Waunakee for Madison sometimes, but most people leave Madison for Waunakee because it has better schools and a better lifestyle!

Posted by: CONCERNED on Jan 5, 2008 at 04:18 PM
I REALLY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT PRINCIPAL WEISS ALLOWING THIS MAN TO CONTINUE WORKING AT THE MIDDLE SCHOOL. STUDENTS AT SCHOOL HAD INFORMED HER OF HIS INAPPROPRIATE AND WEIRD BEHAVIOR, YET SHE DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. THE STUDENTS FELT UNCOMFORTABLE AROUND HIM. I GUESS SHE MUST HAVE BEEN MORE CONCERNED ABOUT CHASING STUDENTS BACK INTO THE M.S STUDENT BLEACHER SECTION AT THE FOOTBALL GAMES OR KICKING THEM OUT OF THE GAME IF THEY HAPPENED TO LEAVE THE STUDENT BLEACHER SECTION. MAYBE IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP.

Posted by: Kendra Location: Waunakee on Jan 5, 2008 at 01:24 PM
why dont people just admit that every town has problems? its not like we are the perfect school, but we have a lot of great things happening here too! the news doesnt talk about much of the good stuff for any town. why dont we just stop bashing eachother?

Posted by: random Location: waunakee on Jan 5, 2008 at 01:09 AM
I always thought Mr.Hirsch gave weird looks to the girls. Thought it was just me.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: madison on Jan 4, 2008 at 08:00 PM
remember to not judge him as quilty until proven so

Posted by: 8th grade student Location: Waunakee middle school on Jan 4, 2008 at 05:36 PM
I have not noticed him staring but I know alot of people who have and I am friends with the girl who he asked for her screen name and phone number and she is very glad he is gone

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 4, 2008 at 05:16 PM
Suzie (Waunakee) get over yourself, a school is a school. You (of course) want it to be the best school, but guess what this article and situation is about something totally different. Stop with the bickering!!! I've heard of plenty of people leaving Waunakee for Madison and plenty leaving Madison for Waunakee. Every

Posted by: Ryan Location: Madison on Jan 4, 2008 at 05:15 PM
OK - do not judge before proven guilty - but when I see the police take out 9 computers and a laptop, it's kinda hard not to wonder why a person has that many computers.He was obviously up to no good for the police to take a battling ram to his door. Guess we'll see what that evidence says!

Posted by: Suzie Location: WAUNAKEE on Jan 4, 2008 at 04:45 PM
This is a comment back to the other Susie. Waunakee's test scores are better than most places. Yes, we have problems but so does everybody else. You probably don't even know the whole drinking party thing. And my guess is that what you do know is probably not the truth. So why don't you get your facts straight before you go bashing Waunakee. GO WARRIORS!!

Posted by: waunakee student Location: waunakee on Jan 4, 2008 at 04:40 PM
okay people need to stop being so rude, the bad things are what makes the news. theres alot of great things that happen here. yea, some things havn't been so great latly and we realize that, but there is no need to be saying the kind of stuff your saying about it.

Posted by: Amber Location: Waunakee on Jan 4, 2008 at 04:24 PM
i cant believe he would do that! hes in most of my main classes! i see him every day of the week! its digusting to hear this!

Posted by: La Follette Grad Location: Madison on Jan 4, 2008 at 04:16 PM
I graduated in 2006 from La Follette H.S. I first met Tony at Elvehjem Elem, then he also was at Sennett and La Follette. As a girl I never felt uncomfortable around Tony. He does have a limp, and walk differently so I hope that is not why people who don't even know him are saying they creep them out. I have always felt comfortable approaching him and he always seemed genuinely concerned. I may be biased from past experiences, but before making hasty comments why not wait and see what the law enforcement finds. It is important to consider the safety of children and take this threat seriously but don't blow it out of proportion when you don't know all of the facts. Also, people from Waunakee and Madison are ridiculous when they're trying to say one school is better than the other. You have no idea what you're taking about since the media blows any small event out of proportion. Waunakee is not the big media outlet (like Madison) until something is enforced from a national level.

Posted by: anonymous Location: Waunakee on Jan 4, 2008 at 04:08 PM
please quit bashing our school. we have so many wonderful people there and I know because I got there. It isnt our fault we had a strange man in our school!

Posted by: me Location: madison on Jan 4, 2008 at 03:15 PM
Waunakee is WAY BETTER than Madison? In what respects and what grounds are you basing this opinion on? In recent months and per capitia I think Waunakee is fairing far worse than Madison. Every community has its problems but at least own up to it. People who live there have to admit it, your hometown has been in the news a lot in the past few months and I have read only excuses for this. And to 8th grader, after reading some of the students responses in this story and from previous stories, your academics are not all you think they are. Spelling is terrible. And athletics? Seems to me the drinking party fiasco was covered up until the end of the football playoffs, or at least thats what I have heard. Your town is not all peaches and cream and Madison is far from that too!

Posted by: Paul Location: DeForest on Jan 4, 2008 at 02:28 PM
I guess everything depends upon how deeply he was "involved" with a "child eploitation website". I'll wait to hear the answer to this vague piece of information before I judge the guy. I wouldn't be surprised if many people posting on this board have visited naughty websites, either by accident or on purpose. What exactly this guy was doing is the question. Until then, I'm not judging. If everybody's computers were examined, they wouldn't have enough jails to hold everybody. From "illegal" copies of mp3's to the computer cache of naughty images that might pop up on screen by accident, it seems everybody can be labeled a criminal these days.

Posted by: V Location: madison on Jan 4, 2008 at 01:58 PM
It is my opinion, if you dont like it dont't read it!

Posted by: mom on Jan 4, 2008 at 01:52 PM
It is too bad that when checking an employment reference, that past employers are not allowed to disclose the reason for letting an employee go. Had Waunakee had knowledge that he had issues of this nature at LaFollette, I'm sure they would not have chanced his employment there. It is frightening that we wouldn't hand people our checkbooks, but we are forced to trust them with our children. Please check the sex offender website, you may be amazed at the number of child sex offenders that live in your quiet neighborhoods. It is always wise to meet all of your children's teachers, and not only go with your gut, but listen to your children as well. This happens, sadly, in every city. Some are just not discovered yet.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Waunakee on Jan 4, 2008 at 12:42 PM
to V i am glad you know how to spell alcohol. You don't live here and don't know everything. Waunakee is way better than madison. You don't even hear about how many drinking parties they have. You think Waunakee is the only place this happens to.

Posted by: V Location: Madison on Jan 4, 2008 at 10:44 AM
Oh waunakee is so lovely! All from underage drinking parties to slcohol related deaths and now this. Whats next LOL

Posted by: Ryan Location: Madison on Jan 4, 2008 at 10:04 AM
The scary part is this guy lives in my townhome complex -just a few doors down!! We saw all the police come in and arrest him. Pretty scary to have such a creep live so close to my kids!!!! Thank you police for taking him off the streets!!! My husband and I appreciate all the police force in keeping our kids safe!

Posted by: Lauren Vettel Location: Madison on Jan 4, 2008 at 10:01 AM
Knowing that this man is willing to possess child pornography makes it irresponsible to keep him near children. We need to quit making excuses and do the moral thing - fire him.

Posted by: Kyle Location: Deforeest on Jan 4, 2008 at 02:08 AM
Tony is a good man, he was my confirmation sponser...he has had rough times but he is a good person...i feel totally safe with him

Posted by: JJ Location: Dane on Jan 3, 2008 at 11:57 PM
Hey Kids,Wait for the Verdict.Listen to yourselves."He was trying to get girls"How dumb does that sound? You have no idea whats going on.Let the Jury Decide.

Posted by: James Location: Madison on Jan 3, 2008 at 09:40 PM
he was a teaching helper in my middle school class, always was looking at girls, creep...

Posted by: waunakee student Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 09:26 PM
i cant believe that he did that! he was in my classes for like this whole year! its sick!

Posted by: Mark Location: Reeseville on Jan 3, 2008 at 08:53 PM
I'm interested in the Waunakee test scores! My 1st grade child can spell better than what appears to be middle and high school students making the comments below. And what about the school officials? If he confessed to attempting to get a minor childs phone number; why wasn't her fired at that time?

Posted by: An awesome student Location: Wauankee on Jan 3, 2008 at 08:40 PM
omg, i go to waunakee and he scares me! he isn't in any of my classes, but when i see him in the hall and stuff he is ALWAYS staring at girls when he walks past them. He has scared me for a couple years now! i'm glad he is not there right now.

Posted by: Student Location: Waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 08:24 PM
I feel so safe now since we have a teacher that does bad things. Our principal should have stopped him the first time that he got in trouble and had to go to a different class.

Posted by: Rick Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 08:22 PM
I wish ms. wiess did something to protect us I mean we have a wierdo at our school. i dont fell safe at school anymore and i am terrible scared.

Posted by: hahahahaha Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 08:21 PM
hahaaa, wow, i see mr. hirsch about everyday, and its scary to know that he was arrested for something he could have been doing in schoooool.. ahh icky. and just so you two know at the bottom, waunakee is not a bad place just because some people have gotten in bad accidents and there's been drinking parties, get used to it. its what teenagers do.

Posted by: Rick Location: Waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 08:17 PM
I wish that are principal Ms.Wiess would have protected us. I am scared to ever go to school again, the principal should have done something sooner to help us.

Posted by: 8th grade student Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 08:13 PM
i never trusted this guy and now i know why but for tom and gary waunakee is a very good place just because your towns dont make the news doesnt mean you are perfect and just look at our academics and athletics

Posted by: anonymous Location: Waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 08:05 PM
umm. nobody in our school is involved ask two students and seven witnesses..SEE what they have to say Mr. Hirsch, you disapointed A LOT of your students!

Posted by: anonymous Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 07:44 PM
umm..i am horrified. my friend accused him last year. THEY WERE RIGHT

Posted by: Susie Location: Madison on Jan 3, 2008 at 07:19 PM
This is in response to Susie below who asked that viewers look at Wauankee's test scores. I did. The Waunakee Test Scores are nothing to brag about SuZie --- there are schools in Madison and Milwaukee that score higher! This incident is just another symptom of the many problems. Can't wait to see what's in the news next week about this little town.

Posted by: anonymous Location: madison on Jan 3, 2008 at 07:17 PM
I use to work with Tony. He was accused of similar things at La Follette and left to go to Waunakee. It concerns me that he was allowed to continue in a career working with "special needs" students. Don't people check with previous employers anymore? Why didn't administration take the students more seriously? It will be quite interesting to see how this story ends.

Posted by: Tom Location: Mazomaine on Jan 3, 2008 at 06:26 PM
To Joenobody Don't be so blind !! Don't be fooled because he is nice and a teacher ! There have been Catholic Preist that have done the same thing's.

Posted by: nick132 Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 06:05 PM
i knew him, he is a good man but a little weird. i knew him and even saw him through the school day in the halls. i think you people shouldn't judge you didn't know him! plus he had dissabilaties. waunakee is a good place and he was from madison so waunakee school district can't be blamed or waunakees fine people. p.s. Waunakee ROCKS!!!!!!! And i hope you under stand this is coming from a Waunakee 7th. grade student. dont under estimate us we know a lot more than most people. only because were from waunakee! hope you all under stand from a students point of view. -nick132

Posted by: student at middle school Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:58 PM
hahahah umm thats great pshhh i thought he was a cool teacher i wanna move!!!

Posted by: anonymous Location: Waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Mr. Hirsch was in one of my classes everyday. I never had a good feeling about him... He would always give weird looks to people, especially to the girls, which this class has a majority of. He got kicked out of a girl's class last year because he asked for her phone number screen name, then denied it. He confessed later though. It's just creepy knowing someone like that was around you at least once a day.

Posted by: joenobody Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:30 PM
i think this is a miss under standing. i go to this school snd its not like that. he is a good man and i hope the charges are droped. becides he did teach in madison and could have done it there. tom and gary with their rude comments!!!!!

Posted by: Jason Location: Windsor on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:29 PM
Awfully close minded to judge a whole based simply on one of its parts. What control did the district have over what one of its employees does at his home.

Posted by: Donna Location: Waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:25 PM
First of all, the Waunakee School District had no influence in the decision of the dismissal of a DEPUTY from the Dane County Sheriff's Department. Secondly, Waunakee is a wonderful place to live and raise children. How would one know without living here?

Posted by: dkk Location: kdkdkdkd on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:23 PM
waunakee is way better than any other town, its not like madison is the greatest town either bud

Posted by: waunakee student Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:22 PM
he worked at my school! thats so creepy! we accused him last year of sexually trying to like get girls.. guess we were right..

Posted by: Anonymous Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:20 PM
im from waunakee and dont get mad us about that because we couldnt have done anything about that

Posted by: blah Location: waunakee on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:18 PM
ah. that's really scary. he was in my 8th hour class for sst. he would help out with the kids who needed help. and last year he got kicked out of class for looking at girls in bad ways and trying to get a girls information to talk to her out of school

Posted by: Joe Location: Wauankee on Jan 3, 2008 at 05:15 PM
I live in wuanakee and i am suppriesed that the shcool district would hire some one like that.

Posted by: Suzie Location: WAUNAKEE on Jan 3, 2008 at 04:58 PM
Waunakee is a GREAT place to live no matter how many times we've been in the news. Check our test scores . . . and our athletic results. As a student in Waunakee, I'd rather go here over any other school in Dane County. How many times has Madison been on the front page for their problems in their schools?! GO WARRIORS!!

Posted by: Tom Location: Mazomanie on Jan 3, 2008 at 04:11 PM
Boy what is the next chapter in the Waunakee School System !!! They won't be able to fire the The dane County Sherif for this one I HOPE !!!!!!

Posted by: Gary Location: Madison on Jan 3, 2008 at 03:58 PM
Wow! Looks like Waunakee is a great little hometown! Been in the news often in recent months. Looks like a place I want to raise my children..... NOT!!