Trista Ziehr makes first court appearance in daycare case



OZAUKEE CO. (WITI) -- Trista Ziehr ran the Family Tree Learning Center -- a Cedarburg daycare, and is accused of knowing a child was being molested by a 12-year-old boy and not reporting it. Ziehr made her first court appearance on Wednesday, May 1st.

The Family Tree Learning Center remains closed down. It has been that way since April 19th, when Cedarburg police received reports of sexual assaults by a 12-year-old boy.

Ziehr had nothing to say as she walked into Ozaukee County court on Wednesday.

Ziehr's lawyer told the judge she is pleading not guilty in the case. A criminal complaint alleges a mother told Ziehr a 12-year-old boy was molesting another child. Police say Ziehr, a mandatory reporter in her role as a daycare worker, did not report the allegations.

The judge released Ziehr on a $1,000 signature bond. She had nothing to say as she left the courthouse.

Jaymie Lacey is the aunt of a six-year-old girl who was at the daycare. The girl is one of more than a dozen children now being interviewed by child experts to see whether the boy may have assaulted them as well.

"I know that he spent a lot of time at that daycare with my niece and other children, so I don't know if they were together or not or if anything's happened to her," Lacey said.

Lacey was not pleased to learn of Ziehr's bond.

"A $1,000 signature bond is not enough. She knew this kid had a problem. She allowed him to be alone with children at the daycare and that's a horrible thing to do," Lacey said.

The 12-year-old boy is in juvenile detention and is scheduled to enter a plea to charges of sexual assault on Friday, May 3rd.

"He's old enough to know what he's doing, and he needs to be in a place where he can't do this to other kids," Lacey said.

Ziehr will be back in court on June 17th as the case moves forward.