HIBBING — A former elementary school teacher currently residing in Hibbing has been summoned to St. Louis County Court to face charges of prostitution and possession of pornography, among others.
Albert “Al” A. Gangl, 65, is expected to be charged with one felony count of prostitution, 16 felony counts of possession of child pornography, one felony count of use of a minor in a sexual performance (manufacturing pornography) and one gross misdemeanor count of furnishing alcohol to a minor.
The summons, which was filed Friday in Hibbing district court, compels Gangl to appear there at 8 a.m. April 1.
Gangl states on his Facebook page that he’s a teacher currently on medical leave from Owatonna Public Schools. Linda Skrien, director of human resources for Owatonna Public Schools, confirmed via phone Tuesday that Gangl had once been employed as an elementary school teacher there, but had not been on the district’s books since 1996.
In a phone interview Tuesday, Gangl said he retired from teaching after 43 years but declined to name the school district or districts. He said he did not teach in Hibbing. He graduated from Nashwauk-Keewatin in 1967 and has resided in Hibbing since around 2001, according to law enforcement.
In March 2010, the Hibbing Police Department received a report from a 17-year-old male that he had been sexually assaulted by an elderly male while under the influence of alcohol.
The juvenile told investigators that he and a friend had been knocking on doors a few days prior, offering to do odd jobs to earn some money. They then stopped at the home of Gangl, who said he’d allow them to walk his dog for $10 an hour. The juveniles were told they’d have to come another day as Gangl already had someone else lined up to walk his dogs that day.
The juvenile and his friend returned to Gangl’s the next day. While there, the juvenile said that Gangl gave them each a shot of cognac. They then walked the dog for 10 to 20 minutes and returned to his residence. Gangl offered to pay them $10, but gave them a liter of whiskey instead, according to court records.
Two days later, the juvenile returned to Gangl’s residence alone. While there, the two had mixed drinks while visiting. The juvenile described the drinks as “mixed strong” and told investigators he had become intoxicated.
The juvenile said the two somehow engaged in oral sex, adding he felt that “Gangl had somehow tricked him” and that it would have never happened if he was sober, according to court records. Gangl also took photos of the boy’s unclothed body, minus his face, the juvenile claimed to police.
Before leaving the residence, the juvenile told police Gangl gave him $100 cash as “a gift” despite not having “worked” or walked his dogs that day. The juvenile told investigators that he asked Gangl what the cash was for, and he replied that it was in exchange for the sexual act. The juvenile took the money, spent a few dollars and later turned over the remaining cash to law enforcement.
The juvenile was visibly upset and physically ill while reporting the alleged sexual assault, said Hibbing Investigator Jeff Adamich.
Gangl said the story is fabricated and the accusations are false, adding that he suffers from physical handicaps which render him housebound and “incapable of ever performing such acts.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it,” he added. “I don’t know. I have no idea what was said, and I don’t understand parts (of the summons). Nothing happened.”
When interviewed by police, Gangl denied having any physical contact with an individual under 18, said Adamich.
“During the course of the investigation of the sexual assault, we came across a number of items of evidentiary value, which led the investigation in other directions and to the additional charges,” said Adamich.
Search warrants executed on two dates at Gangl’s residence resulted in the seizure of computers; cameras; hundreds of CDs, DVDs and VHS tapes, including more than 100 manufactured male pornographic DVD movies; and rolls of films and negatives.
Law enforcement also collected numerous various sized photos of naked males, ages unknown but most appeared to be in their teens; newspaper clippings of missing and murdered children; and items such as various sized swimsuits, packages of tank tops and briefs, athletic supporters and sex toys. A dozen handguns were also seized and a sample of Gangl’s DNA taken.
Investigators also documented the contents of Gangl’s residence, noting there was a pool table, video gaming systems and other items that “would welcome the younger generation and entice them to stay around,” said Adamich. Gangl most likely did not use the items himself because of mobility issues, he added.
Investigators also seized a black notebook, in which Gangl kept the names of the males who were working for him. Also noted were dates and dollar amounts. Some had “gift” and the letter “B” next to them, court records said.
Because of the statute of limitations, they were unable to charge Gangl with some additional crimes, Adamich noted.
Gangl does not have a criminal record.
VirginiaMN.com