Wanner makes court appearance in child molestation case

William Wanner made a brief appearance Monday in Hennepin County court on two felony charges that he sexually abused a 10-year-old girl at the Minneapolis Club in December. His first hearing has been scheduled for next Wednesday.Trailed by reporters, he made no comments he left court.

Wanner, 67, is described in court documents as a friend of the victim's mother who would often take the girl to the exclusive club in downtown Minneapolis. He was arrested on Monday after a witness came forward to say that she saw him pull the girl's bathing suit down and put his hands in her groin area in the club's hot tub.

Surveillance video, described as "very revealing" by Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman, shows the incident described by the witness on Dec. 27, as well as a similar encounter on Dec. 7. In both cases, the videos also show the pair getting out of the hot tub and going to the womens' locker room together.

Wanner, the founder of Wanner Engineering, lives in Wayzata. He's free on $500,000 bail, but he has surrendered his passport.

The Minneapolis Club has revoked his membership and banned him from the club.

You can read the full criminal complain by clicking here.