A Wisconsin Dells man accused of sexually assaulting two young girls in his care more than a decade ago has been ordered to stand trial, court records show. Jeremy Allen Schertz, 52, was extradited from South Carolina and is charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child tied to incidents prosecutors say took place in 2012 and 2013.
After a preliminary hearing, a judge ruled there was enough evidence to bind Schertz over for trial. His arraignment is set for June 17, 2026, according to WKOW, which reports the case will now move into Columbia County Circuit Court for scheduling and pretrial motions.
The investigation started in late 2024, according to the Wisconsin Dells Police Department, and led to formal charges being filed on June 4, 2025. A nationwide warrant followed on June 25. Authorities say they tracked Schertz to Horry County, South Carolina, where he was located on Aug. 12, 2025, before being extradited back to Wisconsin, as reported by Country Herald.
Court documents obtained by WKOW state that both alleged victims were girls under the age of 12 who were in Schertz's care, with one as young as 8 at the time. The complaint also notes that Schertz's then-girlfriend told investigators she saw him assault both children.
What the charges mean under Wisconsin law
Schertz faces two counts of first-degree sexual assault of a child, among the most serious sex-crime charges in Wisconsin. State law lists several subsections under first-degree sexual assault of a child, and Wisconsin's felony classification rules allow for penalties that can include lengthy prison terms and, in the most severe cases, life imprisonment, according to the State Law Library and state statute 939.50.
As the case moves through Columbia County Circuit Court, Schertz remains presumed innocent. Prosecutors are preparing for arraignment and any pretrial motions. The Wisconsin Dells Police Department has publicly thanked the Columbia County Sheriff's Office and the Horry County Police Department for help locating Schertz and is asking anyone with additional information to contact law enforcement.
