EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Two men, were charged with serial sexual abuse of pre-pubescent children in their neighborhood across from a playground not far from South Middle school. The separate criminal complaints didn’t allege whether the men were a team but claimed they were aware of each other’s carnal predilections and activities. The men themselves lived kn the same street — Pine Ridge Road. The complaints said that the children were between 3 and 10 years old and that incidents occurred from 2014 to 2022. Charged were:
> Robert Karstensen, 82, whose bail was set at $1 million.
> James Barbey, 54, at $250,000.
Police began investigating in May when a social worker leaned of possible child abuse. The criminal complaints are specific that Karsten assaulted five victims and that Barbey assaulted three. The complaint says police asked Karstensen how he chose kids to assault and quoted him that the kids played on his property and were. were around all the time. The assaults allegedly occurred in homes, an RV, and outbuildings, the complaints say.
Karstensen. The charges, some as multiple counts: Repeated sexual assault of a child, hild enticement., exposing genitals, sexual contact with a child, exposing a child to harmful material.
Barbey. The chatges, some as multiple counts: Child sexual assault, sexual contact with a child. exposing genitals or pubic area.