Ex-janitor accused of peeping at boy on toilet

Published 9:29 am Friday, March 21, 2014

ST. PAUL  — A former custodian for St. Paul Public Schools is accused of peeking underneath a bathroom stall and smiling at a male student in February.

Sixty-two-year-old Walter Happel of Newport is charged in Ramsey County with one count of surreptitious interference with privacy.

Happel was charged for a Feb. 20 incident at Linwood Monroe Arts Plus School.

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During their investigation, authorities learned that Happel kept a room in the building that contained topical intensifying gel, energy capsules and a bottle of testosterone.

The Star Tribune reports the bathroom incident is the latest in a number of alleged transgressions with young boys that go back as far as 2003.

A school district spokeswoman says the district is cooperating with police. Happel had no comment as he left jail Thursday.