New trial, same result for former janitor

By Star Journal staff

A former school janitor who was convicted in 2019 of first degree child sexual assault, false imprisonment and child enticement was reconvicted of those charges Wednesday by an Oneida County jury.

Stavros Iliopoulos, 69, was a contract janitor at Northwoods Community Elementary School, a School District of Rhinelander school, when he was accused of touching a female student inappropriately. He was granted a new trial when Judge Michael Bloom determined he had ineffective counsel. The new trial began Dec. 19.

According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, school surveillance video shows Iliopoulos entering a closet with the student. The student reportedly told school officials that Iliopoulos hugged her, kissed her and touched her bare leg.

The jury began deliberations at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday and returned with the guilty verdicts shortly after 5 p.m. Iliopoulos will be sentenced Feb. 8.