Man charged with child sex assault appears in court

WALWORTH COUNTY -- A judge set a date for the preliminary hearing for 51-year-old Rodney Meiller, charged with two counts of repeated sexual assault of a child.

Meiller was a volunteer with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Rock, Jefferson and Walworth Counties. During his time there he allegedly sexually abused an 11-year-old child at the YMCA in Lake Geneva and his home.

According to the criminal complaint against Meiller, the victim indicated Meiller touched him inappropriately 10 or 11 times at the YMCA and 15 or 16 times at Meiller’s house (when the boy would spend the night).

According to the criminal complaint, Meiller admitted to showering in the same stall with the boy at the Y, and sleeping in the same bed with the boy on one occasion.

The complaint indicates Meiller and the victim first met in July or August of 2011. Apparently the last time Meiller saw the victim was June 7, 2012.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters terminated Meiller’s work with the organization after learning about the allegations.

If convicted of the charges, Meiller faces up to 60 years in prison.

The Walworth County District Attorney's Office also requested that the case goes through the courts quickly, since the victim is so young.

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