Legislation that would no longer require children in protective care to be subject to placement with admitted child abusers cleared the State Senate today on a unanimous voice vote.
Ethan’s Law, honoring the memory of 7-year-old Ethan Hauschultz of Manitowoc is a bipartisan measure whose primary author is First District State Senator Andre Jacque of De Pere.
“The current system failed Ethan Hauschultz and unfortunately many other children. This is just another vitally important step forward to make sure that we’re protecting children and keeping them safe and keeping them out of harm’s way.”
Ethan died nearly three years ago after suffering a pattern of cruel abuse at a Town of Newton home where he had been lawfully placed by County workers despite a lengthy record of violence by his caregiver and great uncle, Timothy Hauschultz. He had been found guilty of felony child abuse in 2009 among several other violent past offenses, but because of a plea bargain, Timothy Hauschultz’s record showed the conviction as disorderly conduct, a non-violent misdemeanor.
“This is someone who had a very concerning record and it was not appropriate to put children who came from a very dangerous situation and place them in one equally as dangerous.”
Timothy Hauschultz remains in the County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond and has a settlement conference with the District Attorney’s Office April 19th.
Tina McKeever-Hauschultz was sentenced last week to five years in prison for her role in Ethan’s death and 17-year-old Damian Hauschultz remains free on bond and his settlement conference with the DA’s Office is set for April 5th.
Ethan’s Law now heads to the State Assembly.
