Salida – A prominent puppeteer and artist is being held on $1 million bail on charges of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old girl.
John P. Wagner, 61, waived a preliminary hearing Friday in Chaffee County Court on three felonies – sexual exploitation of a child, sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust and unlawful sexual contact. Wagner is to appear Nov. 9 in district court.
Wagner, whose website says that he has lived in Santa Fe, has performed throughout the West with his mobile theater. He also sells his angel and fantasy art online.
The alleged victim’s mother reported Wagner to the Department of Social Services on May 18 and an investigation was begun, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. The mother said she had taken her daughter to Wagner’s house twice to allow him to photograph and sketch her for a portrait.
After the second visit, the girl told her mother that Wagner had photographed her in the nude and touched her buttocks. The victim subsequently told police that Wagner had touched her, watched her remove her clothing and took pictures of her while she bathed.
The arrest affidavit said police searched Wagner’s home and found nude pictures of the victim and other children that were “overly provocative and sexual in nature.”
