Wisconsin man accused of climbing into bed with babysitter, assaulting her

ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (WITI) -- A man from Elkhart Lake has been charged with fourth-degree sexual assault after investigators say he climbed into bed with his children's babysitter and assaulted her.

Court documents say on Aug. 12, the babysitter was staying the night at a home on Victorian Village Drive because she was going to watch 51-year-old Thomas Shortt's two children right away in the morning.

Shortly after 2:30 a.m., investigators say Shortt entered the guest bedroom where the babysitter was staying and got into bed with her. A criminal complaint says Shortt wrapped his arm around her and began to touch her inappropriately.

The babysitter ran to a bathroom to call her parents. Her parents called police.

Officials say Shortt appeared to be extremely intoxicated. When they spoke with him, Shortt denied any knowledge of getting into bed with her or “doing anything that would be considered criminal.”