Keshena man charged for sexual contact with minors

By: 
Kevin Murphy
Correspondent

A Keshena man has been indicted in federal court for allegedly making sexual contact with three girls under the age of 12 and photographing at least of one of them.

According to an affidavit by FBI Agent Sarah Deamron filed in court, Menominee Tribal Police began investigating Darwin J. Pamanet, 46, for possible child sex abuse on Jan. 22. On that date, an 11- or 12-year-old girl told them that, in December, Pamanet allowed her to look at his cellphone. The girl saw a photo of Pamanet’s hand lifting up her younger sister’s nightgown exposing her buttocks.

According to the affidavit, the older sister also said that Pamanet “touches” her and her younger sister. Pamanet had allegedly told the older sister to go to her room where Pamanet had the girl sit on his lap and had sexual contact with her, according to the affidavit.

Pamanet gave tribal officers his cellphone and, after obtaining a search warrant on Jan. 24, 18 photos of prepubescent minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct were recovered.

The older sister told a forensic interviewer on Jan. 31 that Pamanet had touched her under her clothing but over her underwear.

Pamanet told a tribal officer on Feb. 2 that he had penetrative sexual contact with the older sister and photographed the contact while she slept.

Pamanet was charged by complaint and detained in early February. He made an initial court appearance on Feb. 7.

He was indicted on March 1 on three counts of aggravated sexual abuse, one sex of sexual exploitation of a child and one count of possessing child pornography.

The indictment alleged that, between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2021, Pamanet made sexual contact with three minor females under the age of 12, and had recorded himself engaged in sexual contact with at least one of the girls.

Conviction of the sexual abuse charges carries a penalty of 30 years to life in prison, the exploitation charge has a penalty of 15-30 years, and the possession charge has a 20-year maximum penalty.

A May 9 trial date has been set before U.S. District Judge William Griesbach.

Pamanet remains in custody in the Brown County Jail.