‘Deeply unsettling’ child abuse charges from 2005 leave confirmation of Evers Cabinet pick in doubt

Crim "confident" in her ability to lead

Rose Schmidt by Rose Schmidt

Courtesy Department of Safety and Professional Services

A Senate committee will question Gov. Tony Evers’ pick to lead the state’s Department of Safety and Professional Services at a March 13 public hearing, just a week after child abuse allegations against her surfaced.

Evers told reporters Tuesday that he stands by Secretary-designee Dawn Crim, calling her “an extraordinary human being.”

Court documents show in January 2005, Crim’s then 5-year-old son poked a pencil at another child’s hand while at nursery school. When Crim found out, she jabbed a pen into the palm of her son’s hand several times, leaving puncture-marks and causing him to bleed.

The case resulted in a deferred prosecution, meaning the case was eventually dismissed, and the charges were never proven in court.

Evers said he learned about the charges when he vetted Crim for the job but said he did not know about the allegations when she worked for him at the Department of Public Instruction.

“When it was investigated — that incident — I found the charges to be unsubstantiated, and she was never found guilty of anything, and she’s worked hard,” Evers said.

The allegations surfacing have now placed Crim’s Senate confirmation in doubt.

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald released a statement saying, “These new revelations are deeply unsettling and will almost assuredly raise questions from members of my caucus surrounding the secretary’s ability to serve in that role.”

Sen. Chris Kapenga chairs the Senate committee that is scheduled to hold a public hearing on Crim’s confirmation. He said the hearing will give her the opportunity to “explain this deeply troubling incident.”

“Moving forward, the committee will have to evaluate whether her actions are disqualifying to her ability to lead the agency. This incident certainly raises questions of Governor Evers’ ability to properly vet his executive appointments,” Kapenga said in a statement.

Crim responded to the allegations saying she’s “confident” that she can lead the agency.

“As a loving, proud parent, this was the most difficult and trying experience of my life. No mother wants to be accused of hurting her child,” Crim said in a statement.

She added that 14 years later, she has a “strong, caring” relationship with her son.

The attorney who represented Crim in court did not respond to News 3 Now’s request for comment.

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