A warrant was issued for the arrest of James R. Lane, who was a youth pastor at Faith Reformed Church in Wisconsin Rapids from 2000-2004.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS − A 52-year-old Colorado man who worked as a youth minister at a Wisconsin Rapids church from 2000 until 2004 is accused of sexually assaulting a member of his youth group.

James R. Lane, of Centennial, Colorado, faces a charge of repeated sexual assault of a child. Wood County Circuit Judge Greg Potter issued a warrant for Lane’s arrest on June 19.

According to the criminal complaint, in March, a 36-year-old woman told a Wisconsin special agent that Lane was the youth pastor at Faith Reformed Church in Wisconsin Rapids. She said when she as 14- or 15-years-old Lane gave her a ride home after she babysat for his children. They were on a back road of Wisconsin 13 when he began kissing her. The woman said Lane stuck his hands inside of her pants and touched her inappropriately, according to the complaint.

The woman said on several occasions, Lane would “lay her down” on the floor of his office or other areas of the church and would get on top of her and kiss and touch her inappropriately. She said it happened about eight to 10 times while she was 14 or 15, according to the complaint.

Two special agents talked to Lane on May 13. Lane said he had a “relationship” with a girl in the youth group that got “inappropriate.” He confirmed the girl’s identity and said he had inappropriately touched the girl, according to the complaint. He said there were three to six times when they went on drives in his car and did what he described as “heavy petting.”

Lane said he and his family moved to Colorado in 2004.

If convicted, Lane faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison.

More local news: Authorities investigating body found buried in Adams County as search underway for missing 37-year-old man

More local news: Appeals court rules man convicted in fatal 2004 shooting outside Arpin tavern can argue for reduced sentence

Contact Karen Madden at 715-345-2245 or kmadden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @KMadden715, Instagram @kmadden715 or Facebook at www.facebook.com/karen.madden.33.

The Ohio Bobcats have officially announced the signing of defensive back Michael Mack. The 6’1″ Maryland native will be making his third college stop, this time in the Mid-American Conference. Mack previously was a member of the Wisconsin Badgers and the Air Force Falcons.

He will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

STAFF ROUNDTABLE: G5 Coaches With The Most To Prove In 2024

Mack spent 2020-2022 at Air Force, where he appeared in 21 games with 69 tackles and an interception, plus four defended passes and a fumble recovery.

He then transferred to Wisconsin, where he needed a waiver to be eligible for the 2023 season. This is due to a service academy rule that players must transfer within their first two years in order to be immediately eligible. That waiver was denied, leading to Mack not appearing for the the Badgers. Mack entered the portal in late April, 2024.

Middle Tennessee WR A.J. Toney Commits To Alabama A&M

Mack joins an Ohio group that was the top scoring defense in the Mid-American conference last season, allowing 15.8 points per game, as the Bobcats secured their second consecutive ten-win season under Tim Alpin.

Ohio will open the 2024 season on August 31 at Syracuse on the ACC Network.

Following the presidential debate Thursday June 27th both parties reacted as the evening came to a close.

Wisconsin GOP Chairman Brian Schimming released the following statement:

“Tonight was not about Joe Biden’s ability to get through an hour and a half debate. It was about whether he can make it through another four years as Commander in Chief,” said Wisconsin GOP Chairman Brian Schimming. “Biden demonstrated he is incapable of either. This debate was a decisive win for President Trump and served as a reminder to Wisconsinites that a more prosperous and secure country starts with retiring Joe Biden in November.”

Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler released the following statement:

“This election is a choice between President Biden, who has a vision for our country in which our freedoms are protected, our economy works for everyone, and our democracy is strong, and Donald Trump, who is campaigning on an agenda of revenge and retribution and who plans to double down on his record of ripping away freedoms and selling out working families to the ultra-wealthy and big corporations,” said Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler. “There’s no question that Donald Trump is the wrong choice for Wisconsin and the wrong choice for our country. That was true before the debate began, and nothing about Donald Trump’s avalanche of lies tonight changed this one iota.”