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Haslach Child Exploitation Case (School District Employee)

William Haslach, a former employee of Independent School District #622 (North St. Paul—Maplewood—Oakdale) and Independent School District #834 (Stillwater), has been charged with Attempted Production of Child Pornography, using AI to produce morphed sexual abuse images of children in his care and with possessing and receiving child pornography. 

He was ordered to remain in custody pending further court proceedings by Magistrate Judge Douglas L. Micko on March 3, 2025.

UNITED STATES vs. William Michael Haslach

Case Number:  25-cr-67 (PJS/SGE)

Presiding Judge:  Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz (Minneapolis Federal Courthouse, Courtroom 15)

Motion Hearing: 7/30/25 at 9:00 AM in Edward J. Devitt Courtroom (STP) before Magistrate Judge Shannon G. Elkins.

Because of the Court's schedule, hearing dates could change on very short notice. If you plan on attending, you may want to check the website to confirm the date and time: https://ecf.mnd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/CourtSchedWeb.pl

Charges:

CountsChargeStatute
1Attempted Production of Child PornographyTitle 18, United States Code, Sections 2251(a) and 2251(e).
2-6Receipt of Child PornographyTitle 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(2), (b)(1)
7-11Possession of Child PornographyTitle 18, United States Code, Sections 2252(a)(4)(B), (b)(2)
12Production of an Obscene Visual Representation of Child Sexual AbuseTitle 18, United States Code, Section 1446A(a)(1)

Press Release: Former School District Employee Charged with Using AI Technology to Produce Sexual Abuse Images of Children in his Care, and Possession and Receipt of Child Pornography

Indictment: Haslach Superseding Indictment

Tip Line:

Investigators believe there may be other victims relevant to this investigation.  If your child has been in close contact with Haslach, and/or if you or your child is aware of Haslach taking a photo of your child, please contact the Minnesota BCA’s Tip Line at 651-793-2465 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.

Summary of Offenses:

On February 25, 2025, Defendant William Michael Haslach was indicted in federal court with child pornography offenses, as detailed above.  In addition, on April 29, 2025, Mr. Haslach was indicted on an additional charge of attempted production of child pornography based on developments in the ongoing investigation. Defendant Haslach is currently detained in federal custody. 

Defendant Haslach has occupied several positions of trust with children.  From August 2021 until January 2025, defendant Haslach served as a lunch/recess monitor and traffic guard for Independent School District 622 (North St. Paul, Maplewood, and Oakdale).  From 2021 through 2024, he also served as a paraprofessional and later as a youth summer programs assistant for Independent School District 834 (Stillwater).  Defendant Haslach was fired in January after Ramsey County charged him with child pornography crimes.  The federal investigation is ongoing and has proceeded rapidly due to Haslach’s access to children.

According to the superseding indictment, defendant Haslach used his position as a lunch/recess monitor, traffic guard, and summer youth programs assistant to take photos (non-child pornography/non-explicit photos) of children in his care.  Defendant Haslach then used those non-child pornography images to produce morphed/computer generated/AI photos of those minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.  The superseding indictment charges Minor Victim 1 as a victim of Haslach’s morphed images scheme (charged in Count 12—Production of an Obscene Visual Representation of Child Sexual Abuse).  Additionally, law enforcement discovered a photograph taken surreptitiously of a minor victim in a swimsuit—this photograph of Minor Victim 57 has been charged as attempted production of child pornography. The federal agents (United States Secret Service) and state law enforcement agents (the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Maplewood Police Department) investigating the case continue to work to identify victims of Haslach’s scheme.  They have now identified almost 60 victims of the morphed images.

In addition to his morphed images scheme, Haslach received and possessed child pornography involving children that were abused by others—children that Haslach did not have access to personally (charged in Counts 2 – 11 of the indictment).

Frequently Asked Questions:

How much prison time is Haslach facing federally? Haslach is currently charged with offenses that carry a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and, in total, up to life in prison.

Haslach interacted with my child.  How do I know if my child is a victim?  At this point, investigators are working as quickly as possible to identify victims.  We are asking the community to assist in this effort.  If your child has been in close contact with Haslach, and/or if you or your child is aware of Haslach taking a photo of your child, please contact the Minnesota BCA’s Tip Line at 651-793-2465 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.

Did Haslach take unclothed photos of the children he had access to?  At this point, investigators have not identified any such photos; all of the photos that Haslach took of children in his care are clothed.  He then used those images to create morphed/AI photos of those children engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  The investigation is continuing.  Law enforcement will continue to update victims as the investigation progresses.

Did Haslach distribute the morphed/AI photos that he created to others?  Agents are working to determine whether and to what extent Haslach distributed these morphed/AI images.  Investigators have not found any indications that Mr. Haslach distributed these images yet.  Law enforcement will continue to update victims as the investigation progresses.

Did Haslach engage in “hands-on” sexual abuse of children in his care?  Haslach is not charged with any “hands-on” sexual abuse.  As agents work to determine the answer to this question, they are asking the community to assist in this effort.  If your child has been in close contact with Haslach, and/or if you or your child is aware of Haslach taking a photo of your child, please contact the Minnesota BCA’s Tip Line at 651-793-2465 or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.

Will the state case in Ramsey County against Haslach continue?  The federal case is separate from the state case against Haslach in Ramsey County, which involves the same conduct.  Our state, federal, and local partners work together—particularly in cases involving crimes against children—to protect the community.  We expect that the federal case will proceed first, before the state case.

Should I talk to my child about Haslach’s interactions with my child?  This is a parental decision.  If you would like resources as to how to talk with your child about this set of circumstances or about personal and online safety generally, we have attached resources below.

How long will the federal case take?  The length of a federal case can vary based on a number of factors.  However, federal cases tend to last at least a year in length.  If you are the parents of an identified victim, the Victim Witness Specialist from the US Attorney’s Office will be in close touch concerning all dates and developments in the case.

Will I be able to attend court hearings?  All federal criminal proceedings are in person and public.  The dates and times of all criminal proceedings are available on the website for the District of Minnesota Courts.  This website will also continue to be updated, including with the dates and times of upcoming hearings.

Victim Rights Information:

Pursuant to the Crime Victims’ Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3771, the Department of Justice is required to provide notice to individuals who may have been harmed as a direct result of the criminal offenses of which a defendant has been convicted. In this context, “harmed” is defined broadly and is not limited to monetary loss. This office uses the Victim Notification System (“VNS”) and other methods, including web pages and press releases, to ensure potential victims receive timely notice of public events related to a case. For more information, go to https://www.justice.gov/usao/resources/crime-victims-rights-ombudsman/victims-rights-act

Other federal laws, including the Mandatory Victim Restitution Act (“MVRA”), 18 U.S.C. § 3663A, and 18 U.S.C. § 2259, govern restitution in this case. Restitution is a determination by the judge that a victim is entitled to monetary compensation for losses suffered as a direct result of a crime for which a defendant has been convicted. It is not a guarantee of payment. In accordance with these laws, the judge at sentencing determines who is a victim and in what amount they are entitled to restitution.

Qualifying victims may be entitled to restitution for: medical and psychological/psychiatric services; necessary transportation, temporary housing, and childcare expenses; lost income; reasonable attorneys’ fees, as well as other costs incurred; and any other relevant losses incurred by the victim proximally caused by the defendant’s crimes. Compensable expenses incurred while participating in the criminal investigation or prosecution or traveling to court proceedings for the case may also be included, such as lost income, childcare, transportation, and other expenses.