Former School Janitor Pleads Guilty to Abuse, Peeping

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A former St. Paul elementary school janitor has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for sexually abusing several children, including his relatives, and peeping at a student in a school bathroom.

Sixty-three-year-old Walter Johann Happel, of Newport, reached a plea deal in March after being accused of peeping at several students at Linwood Monroe Arts Plus School. The peeping allegations led victims to come forward who said Happel abused them back as far back as the 1980s.

Happel , who was a St. Paul Schools employee for nearly 30 years, apologized in court Thursday.

Ramsey County Attorney John Choi says Happel preyed on the innocence of children for over 30 years, and he's relieved Happel is being held accountable.

Happel was ordered to register as a predatory offender.