Former St. Paul Schools Janitor Pleads Guilty to Sex Charges
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A former St. Paul schools custodian accused of peeking at students in the bathroom faces 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to sex abuse charges.
Sixty-three-year-old Walter Happel pleaded guilty Thursday in Ramsey County to sexually abusing two boys in the 1980s.
Happel also entered an Alford plea to an accusation that he peeked at a student standing at a school urinal. An Alford plea allows the accused to maintain innocence but concedes enough evidence likely exists to convict.
Reports say Happel faced charges in eight cases. Under a plea deal, the other five cases were dismissed.
Sentencing is set for May 7.
Happel was a custodian at St. Paul's Linwood Monroe Arts Plus school. He resigned last year because of the investigation into his alleged behavior.