Former Wausau substitute teacher found not guilty in child sex crimes case

WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) - A jury has found 28-year-old Zachary Robins not guilty on both counts of first-degree child sexual assault while working as a substitute teacher in the Wausau School District.

Robins appeared in Marathon County Court for the third and final day of the trial to face the verdict. The jury reached the verdict after roughly two hours of deliberation.

On Wednesday (day two), testimony continued in the afternoon, including from the current School Resource Office at Horace Mann Middle School Koua Thao. Shortly before the court was adjourned for the evening, the defense again moved to dismiss the trial and was again denied following the state’s argument.

Both sides rested on the case as the day ended.

Much of the morning on Tuesday (day one) consisted of selecting a jury which was officially sworn in at 11:41 a.m. In the afternoon, both the prosecution and defense made their opening statements followed by sworn testimonies from several individuals which included pieces of evidence submitted to the court.

Robins served in the Wausau School District on 19 different occasions between Feb. 27 and Oct. 15, 2019. Court documents suggested Robins inappropriately touched two students at Riverview Elementary School on Oct. 15.

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