The owner of a haunted house is pleading no contest to sexual assault charges against teenage workers

MANITOWOC. Wisc. (WLUK) — The owner of a haunted house considered one of the “best haunted attractions in America” has been convicted of sexually assaulting a teenager who worked for him.

On Monday, 38-year-old John Schwarz claimed no contest to three counts: sexual intercourse with a child under 19, fourth-degree sexual assault and psychological harm to a child.

WLUK reported that the number of crimes was eliminated or reduced.

The state and defense agreed to a joint recommendation of five years probation with a number of conditions. Schwarz’s sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday.

A prosecutor read a statement from a victim in the case in court Monday. He said he had become a “shell of his former self” due to the trauma of the events and dealing with the ongoing court case.

“No one deserves to endure the pain I endured,” the victim’s statement said, calling for a prison sentence.

Black had operated Scare USA in Two Rivers. The relevant website lists the attraction as closed.

During the investigation, it was discovered that since 2014, Schwarz had had sexual contact with a number of youths who volunteered at the haunted house. An assistant district attorney previously said in court that Schwarz would tell victims that no one would believe them if they reported the sexual contact.