New details in Shawano Co. official arrest

SHAWANO - The Shawano County human resource coordinator Judy Rank confirmed to FOX 11 Wednesday that county emergency management director Steven Haskell's resignation was effective, as of Sunday.

In a joint release from the Shawano County Sheriff's Department and county district attorney's office dated September 18, officials started an internal investigation surrounding allegations that a county employee was using county-issued equipment that violated county policy on September 14.

It was during that investigation that officials found evidence of possible criminal activity.

County administrative coordinator Tom Madsen confirmed to FOX 11 Tuesday the equipment in question is a computer and the employee in question is emergency management director Steven Haskell.

Jail records indicate Haskell was arrested under suspicion of a charge of possession of child pornography.

The Shawano County Sheriff's Department confirmed Tuesday Haskell was initially booked into the Shawano County Jail Sunday by the DCI.

The release says District Attorney Greg Parker was consulted for a review of the evidence who then asked for the State of Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation to start an independent investigation.

As a result of DCI’s investigation, the release says the employee was arrested on probable cause Sunday at 9:25 p.m.

The release says an extensive amount of technical data was analyzed and appropriate interviews were conducted after the arrest. Parker - working with DCI - reviewed the information and a judicial review confirmed there was probable cause for the arrest and detention.

According to the release, prosecutors and the DCI conducted a joint review of the preliminary investigation and, after talking with the Attorney General's Office, Haskell was released on his own recognizance until the investigation is complete.